ra's

ell me how exhausted they were just by watching me c

d for my whole life left me in the bed like I wa

der what she did to climb up so high that she en

ld floor and the air from the open window but I know I cannot sit still because as a Luna, I

are lay his eyes on because he's busy d

de and couples of my lady-in-

inute." I ordered them whi

at Mary who had been with me sinc

the room to see if one of the maids would say a word about th

unt. He was with a couple of wolves who are still learning how

nodded. "

the same bed

t could be

kind of insecure wife who is afraid to lose her husband... it feels ri

oving all my clothing, I

ixed with warm steam fi

owly, the heat enveloping my ski

they poured warm water over my shoulders. The silence in the room wa

d to strip away the memories of last night as easily as the suds st

ss my collarbone, wiping delica

ared her throat, stepping back wit

aze downward, an

ove m

dows across my pal

ped lower, where no one else dared to look. Proof. Not of p

ing at my lips like in the stories we used to whisper about under blankets at night.

had been mechanical. A transaction

s body above mine, the way his eyes b

conceive my son, and t

carved porcelain edge. One of the maids paused, sensing

at was the

than a vessel. A womb to be filled. A duty to be ticked off

ould envy, preparing to step back into a world that expected me to smile l

ng the steam curl into the air

hambers, the silk of my robe brushing against my ankles. My damp ha

strange place between numbness and restraint, w

of her apron. Her face was pale, too pale, and the

bly w

oice cracked, bare

carefully compose

ers tightening. "Alpha

t did not race.

I asked

efore stepping closer. "He

n't move. I simply lo

rom the Southern Border Pack." She hesitated again. "There's talk. The

tre

aid. It hung in the air like

urse, it was. An alpha returning to his Luna with another woman in tow? A woman

mach c

rdens stretched outside in emerald layers, calm and

they now?

ds say he ordered that she be given one

e. How c

rom the window,

er was left of my pride. Not with words. N

l and even. "Have my tea brought in

tartled. "My

d up

I'll be

ped out of the room, leavi

t, unmoving. Then I let m

ted across my skin like bruises

another woman by morning. In fact, he left i

that he was in a hunt but no

iron

ull-length mirror, watching the wa

m talk about Nova Wilder

nder thought he

ravely m