Sold To The Monster: The Wolfless Bride

INE

ing treatment worse than a common stray, while my you

d to substitute me for Bristol and sell me to Kaleb Caldwell

ribs cracked, while my parents watched with co

my mother handed me a cheap co

ted me an ornate box filled with moldy, f

al about your old things," she mocked, playing

unishments and loved a family th

broken, fearful substi

faces, the terror inside me finall

cry or be

ercent of the pack's wealth and forced him to

with the secret healing power newly awakened in my blood, I

*

hat wasn't mine. Not yet. The vision clung to me, more real than the threadbare blanket tangled around my legs. A man in a silver mask, his grip like iron, my own frantic, useless struggle. The final, sickening snap. My breath came in ragged gasps. My heart hammered against my ribs. It was the third time this week. The same man. The same end. A wa

o in her place." I was to be married. Not just married, but sold. Handed over to Kaleb Caldwell, the Alpha of the Caldwell Pack. A man whispered abou

ask of gentle concern. "Adaline? I heard you cry out. Another nightmare?" Her voice was soft, like honey. It used to soothe me. Now, it made bile

w it. A flicker of something in the depths of her blue eyes. It was gone as quickl

pha Kaleb is... very powerful. I'm certain you'll be safe." The unspoken words hung be

lf-open door: "I know you hate me for this, Adaline, but please-don't take it out on me. I'm only the messenger. I didn't choose this." She dabbed at her eyes with a sleeve, thoug

tbeat, thick with fury. The door, which Bristol had left ajar, was kicked fully open, slamming against the wall. My brother, Brennen, stood there, his face contorted with ra

rennen, no," she sobbed, her voice dripping with practiced innocence. "She didn't mean it. She's just upset

oulder, fingers digging into the bone. He hauled me from the bed. My body, still weak from sleep and fear, offered no resistance. My head cracked against the corner of

ou remember your place," he snarled. "You are a substitute. A disgrace. You are nothing." From behind him, Bri

ass dug into my palm as I tried to break my fall. "Learn some obedience," Brennen spat, looming over

ad, my shoulder, my hand-it was agony. But it was his

His hands, not on my shoulder, but around my neck. The life draining out of me on this very floor, after

d passive. The masked man's killing blow. Brennen's murderous hands. They were all futures I could still change. Terror was a tidal wave, but something else rose with it. Rage. A d

gled hair fall away from my face. I met Brennen's furious gaze. My own eyes, I knew, were n

entary hesitation, that crack in his dominance, was all I needed. His

he doorframe. His arms were crossed over his chest, his expression one of utter boredom. He looked at the scene-the shattered glass, me on the floor, Brennen poi

fore stomping out of the room. Bristol followed, a final, perfect tear tracing a path down her

luck, s