ar

Come h

ore I could brace myself, her hand was in my hair

Devlin's

hy is this place still a mess?

e sting in my scalp. I didn't speak. There

was abo

the Natal Ceremony. Some of my f

vlin's voice echoed from the stai

shit!" she snapped, pointing at me li

d-not with real concern for his daughter, but with

o?" he asked, s

hand lashed out-smacking

of how many bruises I received, broken bones, how many ti

sed was violate me and I didn't delude myself into thinking that made me luck

ly as she

ered, walking awa

birthday and it had to be

ird coi

more year

una murmured, her voice a low growl in the b

ffed silently

uld happen,'

terly than I meant to. 'Look at us. I'm an Alpha in name only. A power

are still

eedom. No future. Luna, I've got wo

corners of my mind with a

e storehouse when I heard voices-two

ice asked, surprised-and if I wa

nd voice confirmed,

whispered near the storehouse earlier that night. "Rumour says h

other hushed. The sound

ous. Who was this

ime to wonder. I s

muscles ached, my eyes burned with exhaustion, and

la

t my face, je

of the maids snapped.

d and shivering. "Happy birthday t

airs and knocked

me

sked f

en. She grabbed a pile of new clothes

already knowing

said so," s

ructed-modeling them like a doll-befor

my room, trying to find something decent to wear-s

hen I sm

like a t

od. Smok

Luna howled wi

r m

or bur

d. Henry Vancouve

el satisfaction. "It was your scent that k

st s

e, filled with warmth.

t, hope bloome

h

her?" Dana's voice jolted me. Her

at her, then bac

, mocki

r mate," he said.

exploded. Her fr

enry l

rt sha

to speak, my

growled. Then s

stumblin

? Your entire pack was slaughtered. Your precious mother was ta

ghter was

scream. To v

said, "you had to pretend your family

e Crescent Pack-the man who k

elieve this would

ss your family so much... le

" he b

ands groped me-my bre

ggling, shoving, clawing

you fight well," Henr

. Kicks to my sides. Fists to my ri

llap

enomous. "It's just getting started. I'll enjo

: "Take her to the hall!

tossed me into the center of the

room, "is the last survivor

ing his hands like he was p

ound at the jeering faces in the ha