lle'

you so

g so hard I could b

at my father. "You made an arrangement without my consen

ook up from his qui

I ask for that?"

another slap. Harder t

"Haven't you done enough already? You called me a shame. You locked me in c

aughed behind her hand. Tha

oney. "You should be grateful that someone is finally going to marry you. A dying A

nap

ing her silver dresses, braiding her pe

out of me. "You are a stupid, ungrateful brat! You took e

ace twisted

shrieked, stepping in front of Elara as if I were a m

de my father take everything from me! My life, my future, my belongings, even my f

! THAT'S

ttled on the shelf, his Alpha aura slammed

ped f

pointing at the door. His finger trembled with anger. "Leave

ing down my face, looking at the three p

who never

er, who sto

er, who sto

old them

apolo

uill again, as though

hat you can carry. A warrior es

d while packing th

lmost n

rn gra

broken shoes

Kael had stepped on,

ffing a few rags into a cloth bag. I sobbed so hard I could ba

ck came at

den door cr

a

d helped raise me after my mother died. The one who used to braid

too. Her old

was wrapped in old leather and still warm from her touch,

rapped it, my h

ath st

's hidden

burned years ago. The one Fath

d with careful handwriting, drawings of

her's words, written in ink t

le, when her

mother kept this book with me, I was waiting for the right time to give it to you,

her, unabl

no matter what. She said your grandmother'

ars that I had felt anythin

broke down completely. The sobs I ha

shoulder, holding the book as though it were my m

She rocked me gently, just a

's not your fault. It

Blackridge ca

ame to s

gathered to watch, no members of the p

ep was

n't exist, as though

ck gate, holding my cloth

riage. The wood smelled of old herbs

wolf wrapped in thorns-was

horns as K

er's study window, hig

as t

the window, watching

sn't

sn't

biggest shame had truly left.

iumphant smile flashed f

ha and a wo

a widow

ok tighter. The leather felt w

ith terror inside me

ridge would

would b

ying Alpha they had sold

as already watchin

g. His face was hidden

y closed

r shut with a so

ing me away from everything I had ever known and towa

loodline I nev