/1/120459/coverbig.jpg?v=c65551c4fe13de4a90277555e4e1e246&imageMogr2/format/webp)
illed the empty vaults of the Obsidian Pack. I
ood friend Serena, while his mother secretly fed me Wo
uy Serena a mansion and plotted to
their poison, Xander's mother locked my d
and got crushed by a burning silver beam, Xan
re doing! You ar
nees, accusing me of bullying a sick orphan w
everything, but they treated my life like w
mate bond was nothing but a
I desired for saving the pup, I dragged my bl
ssion to reject
dy to tear down his
pte
ne
tyard, heavy as a shroud. Gas lamps sputtered along the ancient stone walls, thro
ar the edge of the wooden grandstand, the hem of my s
ack, sharp as a rifle sho
massive pillars of the grandstand buckled and gave way. Screams erupt
oyal Pup, barely old enough to walk, sa
scle coiling and releasing like a sprung trap. I shoved the pup out o
tural heat tore
been decoratively inlaid with a tr
ening scent of my own burning flesh filled my throatust that Elder Xenia forced into my nightly tea. The poison had suppressed my bloodline so thoroughly that even I had forgotten its existence. But now, with the poison's hold weakening from my recent bouts of hemorrhage and
avy boots slammed against the stone. Th
oped up the crying,
manded. It carried the we
er scent was like ozone and ancient pine. She was th
up, then down at me. Her
er voice echoing in the silent courtyard. "Speak
like a raging fire eating my b
had never
in in my back threatened to tear my spine apart. Ignoring the sharp intakes of breath from the surrounding crowd, my legs dragged the
a dull sound as it met the stone
reject my Alpha, Xander," I said. My voice
rippled thro
ous roar erupte
the crowd. His scent, which I once found a comforting mix of dark e
He opened his mouth, unle
outh!" his v
It was designed to force any lower-ranking wol
dormant, icy presence stirred again-not in fear, but in defiance. The spirit of the W
re of his command did not shatter; it simply dissolv
ng directly into Xa
tired of being your fake Luna. I am tired of watching
om the pain!" Xander yelled,
led your empty vaults. My caravans brought the rare potions to heal your warriors. And i
ters to the royal courtyard!
stepped forward. Her face was twisted in disgust.
t because I want the pack bon
tic sob broke
under the gas lamps. Her knees seemed to lose their bones, and with a rustle of f
ng. "I am so sorry if my presence offends you.
He wrapped his strong arms around her w
g! You are using your aura to press down
r disgust. The mate bond, which should have been a sou
said, looking back
is fangs extending. He dropped Serena and lunged towar
, a warning shiver running through my spine
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