just been locked in a cage. The vehicle rolled off the battered driveway in front of th
ia, and Lily stood on the porch in neat clothes, not as family sending
of stone, glanced at me once in the rearview mirro
rs," he said fla
it couldn't thaw the cold seeping
bout him-so many that the line between exaggeration and bloody truth had long blurred. But
mad. De
that sent them potential mates-payment and hush
ht I'd already hit rock bottom. Turns out
m sky in deep blue silhouettes, quiet and ancient, l
r. We were leaving the pack I grew up in and head
ated up in my mind. "Never
I whisper
and stopped in front of
oon-the symbol of the Bloodmoon Pack. As the doors opene
d then I understood-understood why my father had sold me off so e
ssive. Ov
e fire basins burned even in daylight, flames flickering over the invisible weight of authority hanging in the air. Compare
p with the smell of snow and stone. My legs, cramped from the long ride and
aged to steady myself. My heart pounded so loud it felt like it filled my chest-whetherher to get out of the car, like his entire job
nowhere. His face blank, he gave me a tiny
ng along my tiny suitcase-my whole life stuffed into someth
loor reflected a shaky outline of me, like a ghost that didn't quite belong here. Inside was warm, luxurious, every
ll, in two high-backed chairs that looked
g down, he radiated strength and authority. His face was all sh
y time. The moment I stepped inside, her gaze fell on me-not like she
ce wasn't loud, but it froze the whole
around the tension like soft velvet. "Come here,
Forcing my legs-heavy as if filled w
't a terrified rabbit waiting for the axe to fall. My nai
ttempt at small talk. "And I trust you already understand the agreeme
g sure every wor
Dominic's child
was coming, but hearing it out lo
ill be granted full personal freedom. A trust fund will be set up for you-its returns enough to keep yo
impossibly far away were suddenly dangle
locking onto me, voice dropping just sl
said, "you can
rv
pers. A blunt, cold truth laid ou
Protest? Break down crying? That would only make me look even more pathetic
side without a second thought. I was like someone drowning, and the Bloodmoon Pac
cause I refused-absolutely refused-to believe my l
lled out a sleek black bank card, its edges traced with faint silver lines. "Get yourself w
se I clutched. There was no disdain in her eyes-just underst
past two years, planning a future with Luke, pinching pennies so hard I practical
all-seeing, but her voice was soft as she murmured, "I belie
ind of genuine kindness-I hadn't
ueezing my chest. I gave a polite no
e air seemed to press down on me the second
e hall and toward the tall tower at the heart of the estate. My heartbeat picked up, my palms going dam
ess women had jumped from it. And I-w
He glanced at me once, expression blank, then
d it was Dominic Voss. The
Maybe I could do this
yb
eath and pushe
/1/125376/coverbig.jpg?v=c72f185495aef31699e010a76ed6139e&imageMogr2/format/webp)