rt wasn't th

to walk through the doors of Blackthorn Academy with e

rse,

find a version of myself that didn't look shattered. But all I saw was

n't s

ice still haunted me-c

're

l burn, the mate bond ripped apart and left to bleed. My wolf had

ry reason

I di

rls into a high ponytail, and walked straig

into the courtyard,

e she

ally ca

er t

flinch. But every step felt li

by me, openly staring. One of the girls

t will I do now?" she mocked, dramatic

led with

t wal

ick archway near the training grounds

ve the guts to show he

e for attention. Reje

I didn't stop. I wouldn't

illed with eyes that followed me like shadows. Some were smu

at me differently now. Like

l match. To be rejected during the bond

social

illed in front

was

king cutlery, but the moment I stepped in, s

are like a knif

er seat was already taken. She looked up at me, eyes

e started

pering something in her ear. Mira hesitated..

t crack

m, grabbing an empty tray and choosing the only is

pretended no

f didn't both

hey laughed. Some

len queen now crawl

my glass. I gritted my

people b

nothing

cept to be born wit

en for someone wh

food but couldn't

me tast

I hea

vo

y I even lo

ened in

gant, and dripping in status and ego. He wore his uniform like armor, his sleeve

looked in my

new he

ed me t

aid, his voice calm but loud. "The

ing over him like he hadn't just

abbing into his steak. "No wo

know I cou

ybe h

at was t

ir scraping harshl

, all eyes t

my he

ut without l

**

and buried my face in the pillow and screamed-ra

from

ted

ted the way my body still ached from the bond. I hated

ated how much I want

it hadn't died. It flickered now, faint b

the pathetic little

o be the academy

gh; I would

d, fully awakened, fully me-I'd make every singl

ially

ly Dante

ws of the library, staring up at the

m was

eel it in

nside me wa

d were growing louder. The heat in

t like

t down my spine. I gasped, clutchi

ion bl

dow in the mirror - glowi

en

le

ling va

ere, panti

e hell

t my

hing... a

yself, the library door

oed across th

Conf

d, hear

asn't a

n't a

sn't

ne I'd never

eyes wer