Shadows of the Forsaken Bond

a's

against the cold stone. My hands were raw, and each movement of the brush sent a sting up my arms. But

augh behind me told

Alpha Ryker's closest friends. His foot collided with my bucket, sp

erupted b

the floor. Reacting only made things

hallway, soft but firm. The teasing stopped instantly. Sh

mediately, eyes wide. "Luna," Ryan sai

she walked to me and crouched down, her ele

he asked softly, concer

back the tears that always se

my cheek. "You're always working too hard. Yo

vited," I s

th birthday, isn't it?" sh

ghtened. I

to eat. Clean yourself up, alright

, Luna," I

k at the group still lingering by the

scram

una Helena was the only one in this pack who treated me like I was worth something. I didn't k

As soon as I stood to pick up the bucket

r's mate will be," a she

ay-he could find her any t

, heart

d turned twenty today. The entire pack was preparing for the celebration tonight-not just because it w

resumed my work, push

ke

ntor since childhood.

erful Alpha should be-a

I used to tell myself it would stop when we got older. But it hadn't. If anything, it had only worsened

ated

he would do if the Moon

't do that to

ld

I wanted was to be dragged in front of Ryker tonight. Though I hadn't been formally invi

ped onto my thin mattress, breathless and exhausted. My bir

I felt on

ent a small tray of sweet rolls to my quarters with a handwritten note: "

chest for a moment before

l window above my bed. I stared at it, wondering what the Moon

e forgott

felt anything yet

walk into that celebration and po

cruel twist of

would

would

ulling the thin blanket over m

uestion h

e very man who had spe