t I had ever owned, yet my body remained rigid, vibrating with panic. I was surrounded by the scent of King Demetrius's guard, all

rejection in the field-that cold, violent shove, still echoed in the space between my ribs, a hollow ac

e secret. That is the only rea

o nature. It wasn't built into the mountain; it rose out of it,

rvants, lesser nobles, stared at my mud-crusted boots and kennel-stained tunic with

erfume, fine, aged wine, and the sharp, untainted Alpha authority of the ruling class. It mad

e room, and the silence that

intricate armor. Their collective shock at my appearance, the filthy omega in the

iled high, and her gown was a shimmering column of emerald silk. Her eyes, sharp with ambition, immediatel

ing storm. "Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this spectacle? Who is this... fer

intricate metal that looked less like furniture and more like a cap

ned the destructive force of a natural disaster. He did not look at me. He loo

y brough

Damo

d with bruises. He was terrified, reduced to the whimpering, pathetic creature he had always been b

y chest-part bitter satisfaction, part absolute disgust

e borderlands to the Hunters through incompetence, you squandered the lives of your pack through arrogance,

d wet. "Your Majesty, please! I-I beg you! I will

. "Your greatest sin was not your incompetence in

silence stretch, forcin

etty, fragile ego over the Moon Goddess's decree. You deemed her trash. That rejection wounded your pack's s

hen back again. He saw my dirt and my bruises, and he sti

dissolved. Your Alpha status is revoked. You are stripped of your rank and title, and you w

tely silenced by a sharp elbow to the throat from one of the K

was complete revenge, but it was hollow. I hadn't earned it; De

ence. He was done with the past. Now he turned his a

weakness. Now, I

he powerful scent that had made me reel in the field was now overwhelming. My

hed out, and this time, he was gentle, yet utterly possessive. He unfastened

orque, a symbol of royalty, authority, and ownership. It was cold against my

off the high stone ceilings. His eyes were

For too long, we have ignored the ancient prophecies. The line of the Silver-

spers. Silver-Eyed? That name was forbidden

firmly onto my exposed shoulder, a gest

I claim her knowledge, and I secure her destiny." He paused, letting the shock reach

the True Luna o

ded, worthless thing. It was the most shocking and the most devastating lie he could have told

erwhelming. He lifted my trembling hand, coated with the dry

t was cold, dry, and utterly devoid of warmth. I looked into his eyes, searching

hing. Just ca

the bond. He

shouts, and terrified murmurs-the tru

eash. He didn't make me his Luna to save me. He made me his Luna to keep his greatest enemy