just been locked in a cage. The vehicle rolled off the battered driveway in front of th

ia, and Lily stood on the porch in neat clothes, not as family sending

of stone, glanced at me once in the rearview mirro

rs," he said fla

it couldn't thaw the cold seeping

bout him-so many that the line between exaggeration and bloody truth had long blurred. But

mad. De

that sent them potential mates-payment and hush

ht I'd already hit rock bottom. Turns out

m sky in deep blue silhouettes, quiet and ancient, l

r. We were leaving the pack I grew up in and head

ated up in my mind. "Never

I whisper

and stopped in front of

oon-the symbol of the Bloodmoon Pack. As the doors opene

d then I understood-understood why my father had sold me off so e

ssive. Ov

e fire basins burned even in daylight, flames flickering over the invisible weight of authority hanging in the air. Compare

p with the smell of snow and stone. My legs, cramped from the long ride and

aged to steady myself. My heart pounded so loud it felt like it filled my chest-whether

her to get out of the car, like his entire job

nowhere. His face blank, he gave me a tiny

ng along my tiny suitcase-my whole life stuffed into someth

loor reflected a shaky outline of me, like a ghost that didn't quite belong here. Inside was warm, luxurious, every

ll, in two high-backed chairs that looked

g down, he radiated strength and authority. His face was all sh

y time. The moment I stepped inside, her gaze fell on me-not like she

ce wasn't loud, but it froze the whole

around the tension like soft velvet. "Come here,

Forcing my legs-heavy as if filled w

't a terrified rabbit waiting for the axe to fall. My nai

ttempt at small talk. "And I trust you already understand the agreeme

g sure every wor

Dominic's child

was coming, but hearing it out lo

ill be granted full personal freedom. A trust fund will be set up for you-its returns enough to keep yo

impossibly far away were suddenly dangle

locking onto me, voice dropping just sl

said, "you can

rv

pers. A blunt, cold truth laid ou

Protest? Break down crying? That would only make me look even more pathetic

side without a second thought. I was like someone drowning, and the Bloodmoon Pac

cause I refused-absolutely refused-to believe my l

lled out a sleek black bank card, its edges traced with faint silver lines. "Get yourself w

se I clutched. There was no disdain in her eyes-just underst

past two years, planning a future with Luke, pinching pennies so hard I practical

all-seeing, but her voice was soft as she murmured, "I belie

ind of genuine kindness-I hadn't

ueezing my chest. I gave a polite no

e air seemed to press down on me the second

e hall and toward the tall tower at the heart of the estate. My heartbeat picked up, my palms going dam

ess women had jumped from it. And I-w

He glanced at me once, expression blank, then

d it was Dominic Voss. The

Maybe I could do this

yb

eath and pushe