a's

revealing. It stuck to my feverish skin like a fancy wrapper. As Veyra commanded, I h

ld squeal in delight and marve

eing the firstborn of Alpha Theron. Wolfless, cursed, desp

my step-sister, a younger, snappier version of Veyra. Even at sixt

ng of heat, stumbling on your feet. Why don't you just run

lts. This was nothing compared to what I would suffer at the Gala.

ompous dress than before. "You're lucky we're letting you out at all, girl. Y

s the right decision," I prot

ething from your little sister here. She's the pack's pride, and is everything you can

heron walked in. "Maya, you're ready?" he

m with joined hands. "We can call this off... Y

thundered, making me back away. "Get your shit together

would be down on her knees, begging for

eyra. "Darling, see if you can make her look more presentable. Dry

*

was in a gauntlet of hell. I sat across from Father. His eyes weren't even on me, looking

tare like that?"

rts, my pheromones were leaking out. Theron's nostrils flared and his jaw clenched, and

ven looking at me. "You're repr

n's hem. "I'm wolfless, Father. I'm in heat. They'll smell me a

top your incessant pratt

" I said, lowering my voic

e my daughter. But you have no wolf. All you've b

hout seeing a failure," I mumb

ights. Mistveil Hollow was close. Its grove was a holy place for ceremonies, like the Gala. M

ut her?" I asked, sudd

ad hints of tremor. "I...I don't. There is no point i

," I pressed him. "Fortunate not to

!" he roared, his eyes flashing at mine. "Your m

my arms over my body, trying to keep the pieces from falling apart

tic Mistveil Hollow glimmered dimly through the win

"When we get there, I'm going to be with the Alp

." I wheezed, panic creeping on

e broke in. "Don't shame u

left without giving me another glance. I

Gala, a pit full of predators, and I was a

rance for a while before gathering the courage to

he's probably just begging for it. That's Grimridge's whore, isn't

s his cheek. "She's an insult to the Gala. Why is she even her

me like enemy arrows, landing hurtfully every time. My heat flared even mo

smells like a brothel. Her father must be so desperate

d away, parting the crowd around me. Their

breathed hot in my ear, inches from my face. "You're wasting t

t away from the crowd, next to a velvet curtain. But the taunts found me on the way. As I walked

ook with desire and embarrassment. It was more so when I was in a crowd. I shut my eyes, refusing to h

t. His eyes were locked on mine, piercing through

, Alpha of the Bloodfang, shattered my focus. He hated me since I turned

Bloodfang wolves. "I see you got a little

eh?" one of his friends mocked. "It's

y back pressed against the wall. Runnin

itchy attitude. You might as well be spreading your legs, Maya. Smell

intention of asking for consent. My hands pushed at

ed around my waist, feeling me through the gown. "You rejected me once, you lit

r it," one of his

in. "Let me go! I

t. I bet you're just dying for someone to help you out, a

nd hence you don't get a choice. And I'm going to accep

music muffled my cries, and Damien's boys surro

ear. "Scream as loud as you fucking want," he whispered. "