IE
nd suffocating. I stood trembling, the st
mixture of pity and pride. "Essie," she beg
al room anymore. It had been thrown back in time, to a sun-dre
ded with guests-the powerful Alpha families from every allied pack. It was styled like a royal we
t doll. I could feel their eyes on me-hundreds of them. Their gazes were a mixture of en
le-a silent declaration to the world that I belonged to him. The Elder droned on about the will of the Moon
und me in a secluded corner of the gardens. She fussed
low. She gripped my arm, her fingers digging into my skin
ss. They are all whispering about it. Especially
er, my heart
iberately, "the only way to solidify your place here is to g
entire worth, my future, my survival, had been reduced to the
eyes filling with desperate tears
the sterile, quiet hospital room. M
. I knew she was only trying to teach me how to survi
rned, the idea of bearing Damien's
ce was born of fear
smic joke. To carry a child for the man who had both saved and destr
ng storm. I couldn't hate him wit
a mountain pressing down on my
just Damien. I had to escape him, yes. But I a
s calm and deliberate.
but my eyes held a
he called a home. But this time, I
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