CLAIMED BY THE ROGUE KING

ter of a slut." "Whore." The whispered insults wrapped around me like chains, each word tightening the grip on my alread

on the outside looking in. Every step I took felt heavier than the last. My ch

m behind. "Watch out, trash," s

startled cry barely registered before the tray tipped. Glasses clattered to the floor, s

I fell hard. My hands hit the ground first, but instead of steadying me, they

the yelp that

fuel the laughter th

girls jeered. "Can't even

r mother," another

he air like knives. My face burned

now?" one of them ta

owing back the lump in my throat. My palms stung, and the

nds made it difficult. As I struggled to stand,

at

the room, searching for the voice. When I found him, my br

one the Moon Goddess had chosen for me. I felt a spark of hope, thinking that maybe sne

twisted into a look of disgust. His silver eyes, which I had admired

old and laced with anger. "Why would she give me an ug

d been soaring seconds ago, shattered into pieces. Tears stung

n my hands and the stares of the crowd. I stepp

hoping he would listen, hoping he

did

t my cheek, the sound echoing in the now-quiet room. The force sent m

he room spun around me, but what hurt most was the look of h

from the wounds on my palms and arms, staining the floor beneath me. The sting w

ess whore like you," Devon spat,

a knife twisting in my chest. The bond between us, which I had barely begun to feel, tore apart as if

urred my vision as I crawled toward him, desper

m, to make him see me, bu

shouted, his voice

t he didn't stop. Another kick came, this time to my ribs. I curled up into a ball, trying to shield myself from the blo

d a fistful of my long black hair and yanked me to my feet. I screamed as

g. No one stopped hi

but garbage. I landed hard on the ground outside, my body aching and bruised. I l

in through my battered body. The small bungalow came into view, and I felt a

I opened the

chairs in the living room, her arms crosse

the mate ceremony?" she hissed

rank back, trembling. I had seen thi

he held a long

hing at my throat as

t burst. I knew what was coming, and I cou

ched, my hands were bleeding from the glass, and my

lapping me hard across the face. The force knocked me off balan

ssed, towering over me. "You're no