pte

ENA

YEAR

e years since I

agony, suffering,

e pain never truly faded. It still feels fresh, sharp, as if it happened only yesterday

the Alpha

at is what t

a, an empty position with no real authority. My

this role. I ne

spect, and call me Alpha, but behind their eyes, I see doubt.

polite bows. My pack, my own people, trying to deceive me, the anger t

them dare voice

lieve in me, but be

em can defeat me. They know it. I know it

hey present the image of supportive parents who raised a powerful female Alpha. The

has, it could cause unrest. Worse, it could invite outsiders to ch

ay their r

bout how lucky I am to have parents who "suppor

hey knew

be strong. Brutal

ove but out

word, every cutting look from my parents triggered instincts honed in my wolf form, to fight, to flee

them," Artemis suddenly said in my

rideful to associate with others. But t

only approved connections with people of status, Alpha daught

liked mos

lse smiles and hidden intentions. I never fit

Asher and Luna Lily of the Cresce

hey believe femal

hey despise what

ntered this world,

raised a

as a politica

lentlessly. No freedom.

have endured verbal

ter will

er want

s a bu

ose cut deepe

ical pain fades. Emotional wounds linger, festering in silence. T

n eased when I s

temis a

st thing that eve

y other half

re I did, and roared when I needed courage. My senses sharpened, fur on my arms and spine rising with ale

me my confidant, my protector, my anchor. She knows my tho

ds me. Gives me confiden

n't know how I wo

ce door opening pulle

oked

nts wal

y pack documents and official reports, pr

right, excited, almost g

ising slightly from my chair. "Why ar

thing is perfectly fine. In fact, the moment we have bee

ment was u

st tig

" I asked slowly.

nced," she said, practically glowing. "The King's Choosing Ceremony will comme

, the world

d went

mo

is wa

every tremor in the floor beneath us screamed tension and anticipation. My body reacted before my min

een hovering over my life like a shadow I could never esc

r they w

ked so pleased and

words settled in. Every suppressed fear I had buried over

?" my mother continued cheerfully. "Not

yo

oed bitterly

of that all their planning, control, and s

e being passed. I wish to roa

to do since childhood. I didn't let them see the storm raging inside

ar. Artemis snarled faintly, frustrated at my restraint, claws scraping the edges of my mind, wantin

etly after a paus

ily inside me, her pr

was

d been deci

is finally