lett

eavy door creaked open. My stepmother, Luna Elena, strode in, her

he declared with authority.

voice barely escaped my lips. A ball? F

a step closer. "Or should I carve

liances-people who mattered. People like Nina, her perfect daughter. The werewolf kingdom didn't even

e, bitch?" Her glare

spered, head bowed

athetic father's request..." She cut herself off before she could finish her se

ackles tightening around me. I hurried to finish my work before retreating to my small room. After a quick was

voice called. I quickly tied

Nina's perfect reflection smiling at me from the car window. She looked l

a hissed as soon as we

d out of the car. His eyes roamed over me with unmistakable c

you know how she is. She refused the dress I g

growled. I stayed silent, k

eyes drilling into mine with a w

s eyes lit up with a disturbing satisfaction

e turned to me, his eyes narrowing. "You will act like Nina's ma

threatening to spill. I knew if I spoke,

, eager to seize any opportun

ys longed for, the one I had prayed he'd show me. "She'l

ll be treated like a maid, because that's all I ever

a said with a smirk t

myself clea

hting back the tears

ike a suffocating veil. My stepmother had turned tonight into another opportun

ce echoed in my mind, a sickly sweet r

roar in my ears. After finally escaping Nina and her friends' taunts, I found a quie

ing. I had spent months praying silently to the Moon Goddess, begging her to free me from my chains. And now, h

vation? The escape I

focus on was the soft smirk playing on his lips. When he reached for my hand, a jolt of electricity surged

oice low and warm, sending a shiver dow

of the mate bond. Could he sense my desperation? The fragile hope t