alpha wing were col
se of the absence of warmth. The pack had never been cruel to m
nce was louder
nificance. The bond throbbed at the base of my neck like a pulse I couldn't contr
oom, I paused at th
th
pers. No laughter. No
e and shut the
om was
ade neatly, the curtains drawn back to let in light, and yet it
e it d
at the mark on my neck. It was still f
ma
been real. The bo
presence
bond reacted like a wounded animal. It pulled tight for a moment, t
spered to th
was asking the bond
green, the trees standing tall like silent witnesses. The air smelled like wet earth
n my chest, not from
ld he d
moon like a promise, then trea
room, my h
was over
as just...
e had r
didn't care a
n't ask for
wanted co
as being
k against the wall, and pre
me close. The way the pack had watched in awe. The way his e
the morni
sile
dist
reje
nd the bond pulsed like a h
he floor, until the sound of footsteps ou
r opene
stepped inside, her e
ring you food," she said
too stunne
ed, "He said you are not to
oat ti
voice barely a
ward the door as if she ex
eplied. "But he said..
ed to
e
I was
I was
e than a possession he
stood, trying to con
I said, for
left quickly, closin
red at the food. It looked
g felt nor
wly, my m
he refused to speak to me? Why had
treat me li
late away, my
sed again, l
d feel
e should feel. Not l
like a di
o
acha
gr
eaming, but he w
e wors
sn't the only o
k felt
y they looked at me like I was a problem. A
nly rejecte
g rejected
n shot thro
stop the tear
ause I
finally realiz
't just a
s about
cting me because
because he didn't
't want
want respo
one who could for
again, as if it sen
ly, anger boil
n't sta
place where I was t
the door a
ridor w
, moving through the
now where
w I needed
bre
I belonged so
, keeping my head low. The servants looked at me wit
d the outer d
e sky. The pack ground
ldn't loo
t
y glance felt
and stepped out
d felt t
br
al
nking, my feet carrying me away from t
comed me like
wind, and for a moment, I felt somet
ac
he forest, my heart po
now where
I couldn'
t
e bond felt
ready begun to dista
and sat down on a falle
and I felt it like a he
es and tried t
myself that th
el woul
would eventual
own, I kne
t a momenta
eginning of so
d was s
he only one
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