dn't spea

her rose perfume cutting through the damp, soapy air of the laundry room. I kept my head down, my ra

eel her e

ara. Her voice was smooth, almost gentle, but

pectful farewells before hurrying out of the room and closing the door behind th

id Selene s

at me,

oring her. But defiance would only make this worse. Slowly, painfu

clothes expensive and immaculate. The complete opposite of how I must have looked -

orning, haven't you?" she said, tilting her head slightly. "W

oo dry, my body too exhausted t

made a decision. As you know, I'm carrying the Alpha's child. But the pregnancy has been... dif

h collar had slipped slightly during work, revealing just th

idened, sweet and poisonous. "And since you're still here for a few m

mach d

ey wanted

my swollen fingers protesting at the pressure. They couldn't get rid

" I whispered, my voi

it will be effective. And because Matteo has already agreed. He s

hit like a

had a

rse, h

ld find a way despite my wolflessness and the mark on my skin. Now he was willing to

sh tears I refused to let fall. "I haven't eaten since yesterday.

ng sharper. "After everything this pack has given you? After you failed

g her voice to a whisper that fe

elp the future Luna and her unborn child? That the wolfless, m

the hunger, the humiliation - it all presse

ted

ed Ma

at moment, I hated how

irmary. Sara and Clara will escort you there once you finish those last sheets. Don't keep

eel and walked toward the door

thout turning around. "Try not to fain

hind her, leaving me alo

ision blurred again, this time not just from exhaustion. The tears I had been

and banishment were the wo

this was som

t just thro

ing to bleed

e last three sheets. When I was finally done, Sara

inally ope

nside, their faces twist

mocked. "How hardworki

rabbing my upper arm roughl

of the laundry room and through the familiar halls of the packhouse. My wet shoes squeaked against the fl

he infirmary, my breathi

ra who had once treated my minor injuries with kindness- now avoided my eyes compl

oking every bit the delicate, precious Luna the pack now worshipped

nowhere t

e ordered calmly. "We d

ened thick straps around my wrists and upper arm with unneces

dle into the crook of my arm. The sharp sting made me flinch. "Try to r

la

at were

ody. Drop by drop. Bag by bag. At first, it was just discomfort. Then came the coldness. A deep, creeping chill

asionally sipping from a glass of water as

hed into what

g that still felt sharp. I remembered Matteo's arms around me. His promises. The way he once kissed

at old love twisted further - burning, rotting,

tr

ce-cold

Black spots danced across m

ceful hand. "We don't want her dying before sh

n pad against my arm. Blood continued to seep slo

nstrap

My knees buckled. Sara and Clara caught me before I c

one of the

llow. Empty. Like they had taken more than just blood - they had drained

as a blur. Only when I heard the loud, rusty creak of the huge back gate did it fina

body on the ground a