Tamed by the Omega
ya'
became indiffere
n the victory of my survival instead. Waking up each dawn under the frayed blanket they grudgingly provided? Victory. Standing back up o
oticed. Not k
hey no
ething colder, more watchful. Wolves understood persistence. Even
one calle
ritiques sharper, but he never struck harder than necessary. He corrected my form when I faltered, threw salves at my fee
mock," Dante said after.
'ours' meant to
hing me and correcting my form as I struggled through
m tr
else." His gaze flicked toward the shadowed balcony where
re was only one person in Crimson Pack
ze like a steady pressure against my skin at every practice and sparring s
uring, calculat
till weak judging by their standards. But I didn't fall and I didn't run. And
ery little movement. My hands shook as I unwrapped bandage from my bruised knuckles. My ribs ached beneath layers of bandages from a
since I wasn't dead,it made
against the barracks d
r than I could bet,"
money on m
ot money. Garric
tting ag
back up the first time Sera l
I tried to sm
n't learn faster." His gaze soften
ched. "
eatening, just assessing. "You fight like someone waiting fo
't want to b
gers. "Here, survival isn't cruelty. You're either feare
lowed.
out heat. Like it was just fa
he Moon Stone
ath claws, of laughter chasing me through halls made slick with blood. I woke up
at the foo
scream, co
dark. Neither hostile nor kind, but with
sped. "Moon Stone. Your father
to claw their way out felt like poiso
ed so we were at eye level. "They taught
ere." My voice bar
mouth curled, not quite a smile. "So w
tightened.
my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. "You belong where yo
it back the shame
place." His grip loosened, but he didn't let go. "Yo
stepping bac
ie. That's the only me
ined h
ht me
truck low. Pain became familiar, but so did anger. I let it burn brighter than fear
ning," he sai
not de
Ye
s always
f training yards, silent as the seasons changing. Once, he
e said, voice low.
ot like
h without warmth. "But you will be
o. I bled fo
me alone, patching wound
m," he said,
fear
me, offering a flask of something bitter and
hing and grimacing
ing me?" I asked.
ickered, brief. "But you
ened. "I
's brought back in years. Usually, he kills them on sight without hesitation or even given the
. "Should I be
ing me with the flask. "And
sleep much
er, exhaustion, and the creeping
shame. But something inside me sharpe
wolf.
hing m
that wanted
ng something Moon Stone