Three Alpha Brothers. One Broken Girl. No Way Out

I

t smelled like someone else's fear. I tried to tug the hem lower, but the maid smack

ack had hollow eyes and bruises on her knees. She looked like me, but smaller someho

my shoulder. "Do not speak. Do not shake. If you faint, you will be dragged." I blink

d a small vial. "This is the bloodmark," he said, not even looking at me. "It will

halfway through. The courtier raised one brow, sighed like I was difficult, and cam

He gave a faint smile, then nodded at the guards behind him. They grabbed me agai

dropped to my knees. The courtier rolled the scroll open and pressed it to my bleedi

lly. My breath came too fast. My vision danced. I wanted to scream. To run. To shi

?" I asked, shivering. One of the guards leaned close. "That," he whispered, "is t

. He smirked. "Some will. Others will watch closely. You are rare. They like rare.

rows of high-backed chairs. Nobles in fine coats. Women in gold-trimmed gowns. Th

ght's presentation begins. First offering, presented by the Ashvale elders, by se

tting sound. I heard murmurs ripple across the chamber. "She is the cursed one,

itched. I kept my chin up, but my eyes stung. I saw men with medals. Women wit

"I heard she survived the fire that killed her mother. No one knows how." A third

" she said. Her voice was bright. Careless. "Maybe someone will take pity and b

e beneath my feet. The spotlight made my skin feel bare. The collar glinted silve

No beast. She is the cleanest slate we have offered in years. The court may ins

ust stared. Weighed. Judged. Then a tall woman in a red dress rose and walked tow

ction. Standard procedure for low-tier offerings. Court rule." I did not move. M

be," she said. "Perhaps she thinks defiance is attractive." I heard a voice ne

les. Past the golden walls. Past the velvet and perfume. I wanted to scream. I wa

have a wolf?" She hushed him. "Because she is cursed, darling. The Moon Go

n shortly." He looked at me. "You will return to the chamber until called again. S

rd the door cr

ows entere

nt pairs of eyes l

Maddox

rything