a's

gasped for breath, removing sheets that were drenched in my own sweat. The heat c

n of the Grimridge Pack, and yet was an

empting to shut out the hollow, thumping that sliced th

no one but myself. "Goddamn y

n. It never did. No matte

miserable like a wilting flower. The others saw me as something more pa

shing chores and getting there. Mist from Vareth Ridge pricked my skin, causing go

. My best friend. He'd been gone since the first heat cycle affli

olfless girl anything, but everyone tried to take away the slightest sourc

de it through the entrance, head bowed, clutching my books like a shield in front of me. My skin prickled, this ti

like a whip. She positioned herself in my way, leani

pack. She had everything I want

e joint with her existence!" s

ed, gathering a little courage. I desperately ne

r closed with a sound that rang in my ears. "You think you get to slink off without

ed the water bottle of a sneering wolf st

ath out of me. My clothes were instantly soaked and

per-red hair plastered itself to my face, stinging wet, and the heat in my

ld smell it.

ng like a bitch in heat." Stacy hollered, cl

he crowd howled, several wolves stomping the ground in amusement, and some

I whispered weakly, but my voic

lling my body with a yearning I couldn't mask. I wanted

n listen to your grievance? You're nothing, Maya. A nobody without a wolf, who can't

y wants you in here. Not your pack, not your family. Even Finn did not

eplied, choking

he's crying!" she sneered as she turned to the wolves to show my twisted face. "Poor little Maya

nd collapsed to the floor. The crowd roared, some in the audi

"Crawl into a hole and don't let us smell you. Or better yet, throw

ore I could do a thing, scribbled "FREAK" big and bo

against the lockers. My body was sha

h a pair of scissors. She meant to cut

ing my hair by the length. "Now let's see how much I can sha

own the corridor. All eyes

. The wolves scattered like leaves under a leaf-blower. E

ather come to protect me

dripping, reeking, shaming my bloo

t abandonment and pain. "I never asked for this," I muttered apologetically

e given you enough chance to redeem yourself. You will do something for

envelope from his coat. My stomach twisted. What task?

dain. "The Werewolf Pairing Gala. Yo

laimed wolves, where Alphas decided to choose their mates beneath the full moon. I couldn'

please, I

flinging the card at my feet

ne, and you will shame the Grimridge pack a

hout waiting for an answer. He stared into my w

in my head: a shame on my name. Wasn't I already a tai

d to cry out my heart, but that would only attract more

t that. It was more of a dog kennel, but it was the only pla

room full of Alphas, smelling like this..."

cking slowly, waiting for the nightmare to end.

As if my day wasn't going bad already.

"What a pathetic sight you make, Maya. My ey

 "I... What

rn a curse. Your whore of a mother was lucky she got to die giving birth

. "It saved her the humiliatio

an you ask Father not to send me to the Gala... I

d, ignoring my pleas. "The Lycan Leader himself sent the invitation. You ref

ed, meeting my eyes, "You know what happens to creatures like you there, don't you? Sold to slavers, hunted

iled off, realizing how untrue my words were. Alpha Theron would throw me to the

ather would allow. If you are here now, breathing, it's because I've been kee

"Veyra, you

de me face her. "Call me Mother!

against the wall. "You will attend the Gala," she pronounced,

t the door again and said with finality, "Go clean yourself up, Maya. Scrub y