Beneath the Alpha's Burden

aming ha

e the only people left in the village were

Smoke coiled around her torn dress, stinging her lungs with every breath. Ash cl

e claws of a beast that stood taller than any man she had ever known. Maybe it was when her mother screamed her name one

fang Pack

re not here

napped from the other

hrashed instinctively, her fingers clawing at the stranger's leathers, but it was

her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing. "

roat was raw. Instead, a soft,

answe

the

the

the

's wrists were bound, and her feet dragged behind her, half-limp, half-conscious. She heard the snapping

not spe

t speak to

war. Selene could not see his face, only the way others bowed their heads as he passed. Even wolv

ed him

red him mor

but massive towers lined with glowing symbols, cold steel bars, and deep howls echoing i

t take her

to the Hall

ows, each wearing the same grey tunic. Some had tear-streaked faces. Others stared

but not young either. Her eyes scanned Selene

she aske

d. Her voice wa

len

bled something

fami

are

e. The

ce. Obey, or you'll find the w

burned without fire. Selene gasped, but said nothi

t she stopped bein

he servant o

s pa

iers, washed the torn uniforms of warrior-wolves who never smiled. Som

one. Her silence

orning, a s

"The Alpha has requested a new

choed through her

asked why.

The halls were lined with statues of wolves, each one snarling, frozen in s

expected to be watched.

y h

ending into the shadows. His back was to her. The air around

ne w

stained," he sai

own. Dirt. B

enough for servi

rned

room c

ike fractured silver. But there was a weariness there. A hollowness.

lerate liar

replied. "I d

her. Long

ame is

no

ved the Oa

tightene

will serve here. You will speak only when spoken to. And you will

the north

owed. "Your f

er head. "U

o. You start

to leave, he

it will burn if you lie

t night with a new ache in her bone

hat she had imagine

iled when th

ot smile

rning, she foun

rt soaked, lips pale. He was seated on the edge of

didn't

the tray she'd been h

asked, her hands al

ave

will

can

"What do

s silver eyes she saw somet

. I just... bleed. O

Selene dre

under a red moon, howling not for the hunt

ke up

her more than any