ia

ived faster than

ders had agreed to Logan's req

around me-the shuffle of feet, the whispers of confusion, the quiet voices of parents trying to understand what was happening. Childre

ia stood beside him, her arm wrapped around his, her rounded belly pr

h the crowd. Murmurs

an?" Elder Marcus stepped forward

Aria." Logan's voice was flat and dismissive

owd er

been a good Luna! When you were traveling, she took care

ld we choose Natalia over her? Nat

us through the

. His eyes swept over

has been unable to give me a child. She is us

eous! To sever her bond for such nonsense reasons? The bond could kill her, Logan

e is barren. The pack will die without an heir. Natalia

ing on her belly. She smiled at the cr

hy. "But I am carrying the future of this pack. I will be a good Luna. I p

s outra

me blurred into

and I quickly looked away, too as

d borne him

." The words left my mouth

before he quickly masked it. H

s gleaming with satisfaction, wh

rd. "I'm ready

ted, exchanging u

ard, but two soldiers grab

voice breaking. "Aria! Do n

with a deep growl bef

smart enough to find a way to

d not

d there, star

he ancient words of the seve

the invisible thread connect

led beneath me, sending m

ike anything I had ev

was too much. It burned through me, suffocating me,

ed, and she grew w

illed m

ing from my throat and echoing through the courtyard.

bond sh

ward as blood spi

y breathe or think, feeling only the ho

was

s al

his face unreadable, be

f my estate. Yo

rly brought me back to my knees. Elias ran tow

are hereby bann

ispers erupted around the courtyard a

arcus shouted. "He is the Beta of this p

hut up. I am your Alpha, and my word is

n, his hands trem

voice broke. "

ed from my lips. "You did everything

voice fierce. "I

the one person who h

been alone all al

them and screaming my name, but they dragged him away

s al

ld stone floor, my body

darkness