, but she knew how to inflict pain in other ways-and many were so

d sarcastically, hoping to distract her long

rbal reply, responding only

ard; he protected her. Nothing had ever gone on her official record. The only proof was the marks on my body

sferred to a neighboring pack's school because he refused to bow to her. We were in the fourth grade at the time. Who even thought abo

ruin my new shoes in front of everyone," Kaïa sa

happened "in front of everyone". It had happened in front of my brother-the future

other high school girl chasing the elite crowd; her lie

lashing all over Kaïa. Kaïa would never admit her

Kaïa's eyes-a clear sign she was about to explode. She rarely showed her true colors in pub

ding off admiration. They had no idea who they really were yet, but they loved bei

r the future Alphas. After all, they weren't strangers: they were only

take over their fathers' rol

zed by the Alpha King at a complex on his territory. Every summer, they returned t

idays, but everyone knew it was primarily to train them and forg

ers thrown together to learn combat, strategy, and pack leadership... Th

arned to manage finances, ensure pack

ling everything that didn't require his direc

una's side, sworn to

of the warriors, responsible for

sibility far heavier than

open their eyes to reality: to rip them out of their high s

it better t

and who saw each other as rivals. Seeing them without their parents p

e hierarchy: arranged marriages, forced alliances, political manipulation... Some parents even we

heir Lunas-the queens. Together, they formed the highest council of werewolve

cking on thick muscle, and their very posture had shifted into something dominant. They had been handsome before-even my brother-but n

eir presence the second they stepped into a room. That energy served to

ng mate for reproduction. The high

had noticed the change. Some liter

oing out with a different girl every night. Sometimes I heard noises in t

, but I knew he wa

t. The janitor's closet was used more often for

ctly what they wanted. Whenever I th

the Moon Goddess. I didn't understand how peop

e tossed aside the second their true mate bond snapped into plac

gthen their bloodlines, but I believed the Goddess knew what she was doin

listening to

from my thoughts. I blinked, staring

haven't done anything. And stop throwing a fit over a pair of shoes: they don't care what b

a flash. A sharp crack echoed as her palm connected wit

fec

rs of having to hide at h

healed faster now that

her friends left on me. My father hadn't noticed a thing when I went through my first

pha. I had been wearing a short-sleeved dress, and he hadn't liked the i

utation. He had grounded me, forcing me to stay loc

med me for my mother's death. She had died giving birth to me, and even thou

r, and I supposed it hurt him to look at m

ays been gentler with me. We used to b

future Beta, he had distanced himself. His prioriti