'S

o splattered across my face. Laughter erupted around me, fingers pointing and mocking. Tears filled

of their laughter echoing in the room. My suffering was clearly entertainment for them. I felt

ud of it?" Vanessa sneered in my ear, forcing me to walk down the hallw

dn't stand up to Vanessa; I knew that would only bring me trouble, especially since she was the alpha's

I feel like I'm being too mean..." she said, a mischievous smirk on her face as her eyes

anger. She closed the distance between us, stepping on my toes with her sh

der on my toes. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I

he head as she said, "Good girl..." With that, she walked away with her fri

lling to endure any more of their taunt

s something I always did in secret, but somehow the information had leaked to Vanessa, my biggest bul

nt. I buried my head in the pillow and cried until I lost track of time. My birthday was the next day, and

e awake. I flew off the bed and hurried to the door. The sight that greeted me terrified me: my stepmother

emnants of sleep from my eyes. "I told you she was sleeping, Mother.

aid, "I don't have much to say to you today. Get dressed; work starts in an hour." My eyes fl

ready turned her back to leave. She stopped in her tracks, turning

ing a step back as I repeated, "Do you mind if I..." The look on

nd I can make a living-don't think for a second that I don't have other creative ways t

night, and they offered to pay a lot of money. You have twen

sible to summon another drop. Ever since my father-a pack warrior-died a year ago, my stepmother

she threw me into a life I didn't want, forcing me to do the most degrading things for money. I had tried so hard to keep th

ore a big coat, but beneath it was the skimpiest outfit-more like a lingerie set than anyth

e distance between us quickly. "Important clients are here tonight in the VIP room, and they h

ten minutes until my birthday. Normally, someone would be excited at the th

, as I had been told to always look seductive. But the s

anessa announced, rising to her feet and clapping her hands, her eyes l

aiga. But what made my heart sink was seeing the last person seated comfortably on the sofa: Zach, the pack beta's son and practically everyone's dream man. He was also the guy

ey just to get you to perform for us," Tracy mocked, and laughter filled the

long as we're having fun, it's worth it," Van

y we would have fun later? Well, now is later, so let's have

s unbearable. I scanned their faces, each one filled with m

hove. I stumbled forward but managed to steady myse

with a smirk, prompting Evelyn to nudge him, frowning a

's fun to prey on people like that." They all laughed, and

led back onto the sofa, a glass of wine in h

k my tears. I avoided looking at Zach as best I could-I didn

pulling down the zipper, silently wishing the Moon Goddess would just take me away right then. I p

rse had paused, and we were the only two in existence. Then, for the first time in my life

growing stronger with each second. I caught a fleeting expression on Zach

eard the whisper of my wolf for the first

te.