use, my heart thudding like a drum. My father's face filled my mind-a man I'd once idolized, now etche

liar he was. But when I imagined my father's reaction,

er came

cut through the stillness like a blade. "A sha

ope that my father-my Alpha-would de

cannot believe I birthed something so foul and petty. I should never have c

y chest threatened to crush me, but the pain in his voice...

rself around him. "It's okay, Drake

fam

ot here. Not to hi

my mouth to stifle a sob. The air felt heavier, suffo

dly. "What the Lycan King does with her i

way, and I crumpled to the damp earth. The world b

that was never mine to begin with. But

didn't dare look back. My body felt like lead as

-

ing. I stared at the peeling paint on the walls, the broken dr

planned to hand me over to the Lycan K

a pair of jeans, a small photo of my mother. Beneath a loose floorboard, I ret

lf in the cracked mirror-eyes red and swollen, hair tangled, dirt

n't let the

-

ipped through the back door. Shadows stretched across the packhou

fled by the soft earth. Every creak of the porc

e line when his voice s

oing, rat?" Sid sneered, ste

ugh me like a tid

is voice was followed by the thunderi

ng at my arms and legs. My lungs burned, and my hear

ce carried through the tree

ving. The dark outlines of trees blurred together, and t

head. Without thinking, I darted inside, the da

-

ragged breathing. I pressed myself against the cool ston

Sid's voice echoed, closer no

crying out. My hand brushed against the rough wall, and

pause. It wasn't the moon-

ew brighter, illuminating a narrow exit. I emerged

the ground. My head hit the earth,

the edge of the clearing. The glossy surface reflected the pale

and heavy foots

" a deep voice asked,

too exhausted to cooperate. Strong arms lifted me fr

limpse of golden eyes. They glowed fain

tched. I kne

beck. The L

resence, the edges of my vision da