Bound Blooded

risen when the gu

idn't

, and threw a black cloak over her torn clothes. Her feet scraped the ston

ors stood

serv

hu

ing wa

athered. Warriors stood in perfect rows. The elders sat in judgm

sion was u

g just below him, hands folded sweetly in front o

's chambers at midnight," Selene announ

s ec

ther warrior chimed in. "

meone whispered. "

t near the chambers. I was in

hissed, just loud enough for Liah to hear. "You sho

urned

er again - not angry. N

pack demands justice. What punishm

ted. But before

ene

id softly. "Before the pack. Le

owd st

aid no

nce was all S

ned to a stone post in

s trembling, cloak torn off.

th the whip di

st lash

burned. Not just her skin. It felt like it reached i

ond las

owd ch

th

something

ky di

or a m

ches fl

charged, like light

yes roll

and, the one that alw

ery blue. Jus

"Alpha..." he whispered.

. Her vision blurred. She saw wolves circl

melting into mist. A v

th

oug

ang out, sharp

one f

latform, crossing the circle

s eyes

ed down at her - blood on her skin, ha

rst time, he l

"She is not to be touche

urmured in

a step forwa

e," he

ard fell d

the guards. "Take he

ke that, he

ng alone in the circle, her fin

healer's hut, she stared at t

d he s

I keep

m I be

t have th

, beneath the fear,

g ancien

br

cu

bo

waiting to

-

iah lay still on the woven mat, every muscle sore, skin burning. The lashe

could think

stop the

s eyes loo

Kael sat alone in his cha

wouldn'

tings, countless traitors

Li

ht about her. That glow on her skin - he'd only seen something

elf near his desk. Pulled out an old tome -

ough pages unt

mortals, carrying power sealed by ancient chains. They aw

d-Bl

d it

nched

ping her close could be the most dangerou

-

moonlit forest, her cloak flutt

as se

she hissed, circling the black sto

nearby, hesitant. "The Alph

t. "But I will remind him w

ips c

aid, "we begin th

But... that ritual is

said, her voice icy. "And I will f

ng, Liah woke

was no

y h

ially in her wrist - where the mark us

the glow di

nd silver. Like ligh

hed it,

r curled in her ear -

hey think. You are n

ed and loo

e was

healer's hut to return to her cho

moned," he said.

omach

chamber, Selene was already there - se

ed. "The little s

ak. She simply

und hers. Shar

he said quietly. "

er mouth, but

he's clearly playing with something unnatur

ssion darken

s smile

ur instincts get clouded. She's not one of us. You should be focu

d a hand

dn't

aze never

l remained silent as she lef

el, and Liah's quiet presence lingered i

ng had

if he should fear i

narrow window in the servant's

feel that glow b

o herself, as if repea

thing. I am

est beyond the wall

s inside her