e's

orothy's voice came softly a

cried last night. The morning sunlight spilled through the win

f back to the palace. I couldn't even recall walking to my room, I just rem

my eyes again, uninvited but relentless. I had always believed meeting my mate would finally bring joy into my life, that eve

ly. From the moment I could r

by starvation. While he gorged himself, I got the crumbs. He never missed a chance to cu

ys chasing some business deal. That gave me time to snea

fell apart the

I was property. A slave to this Pack. He said I was

up. Maybe that's why the villagers always look

t hope. But instead of

heartbroken. And I didn't know how to comfort her, how to c

me under, my sorrow draggi

, dear?" Her palm was soft and warm against my cheek. Concer

in conversation. My heart was still too raw

just really tired yesterday from all the chores around the Pack," I said

as a

asta was high in sodium. Maybe

uth was far more devastat

said, pursing her

at's why your eyes

repared to leave. "I'll make a cold compre

t onto my lips. For once, so

was a soft kno

Dorothy said,

. "Mistress Diva sent me to fetch Rose.

es. Her brow furrowed, mine raised. W

betrothed to

have with a commoner like me? A

assign me some task. Or perhaps sh

was just o

aint smile, wrapping her in a warm hug before

legs ached, my feet dragging beneath me. What confused me

h

er, I hadn't eaten since yesterday. Still, I couldn't afford to collapse now

. At least I had someone. But nothing co

soul in sight, rats scurried across the filthy ground. Skulls and bones

d only seen places like

ning, the l

ross my skin. My heart

his a

chortle echoing through the sile

ned in all directions, trying to locate the sound.

idly, my eyes widened in t

i

h deliberate grace, hips swaying like she was on a runw

her expression twisted in

cubus," she sneered. "So this is ho

, each word slicing thro

rising to a scream, "I could ruin

age, green and red vei

"Alpha Jackson's betro

resting on her waist like

fiancé?" she demanded, her tone

alked closer, voice low but

stunned, mouth pa

t she was talking about

on't know what I'm talking abo

was, Diva. The infamous

ow that Jackso

much Jackson despised me... If only she knew the coldness in hi

I was a

she snapped, her voice like a crack

in

in the goddess's name did

rushed forward an

caught in

gged, serrated blades along its coils, carved like the body of a snake. Its massive,

cked grin, flicking the whip through the air with a

e raised her arm, and

nstant. More t

hocks of pain through my entire body. I screamed. My voice

ross the walls and floor. My skin ripped open with each l

an, she was a demon wie

gods silently for death to c

it d

ip of the iceberg. Don't ever get close to my man aga

he echo of her heels clicking against the st

elf from the bloodied ground, but

at I felt. It was as if every bone ha

ds. The metallic tang of it filled my mouth. My

ny. My limbs trembled. My vision blurred. It felt l

p and a

y limbs. Blood dripped from me with every limp forwa

ently. The world spu

t take an

ing, collapsing into the void,

d growing quieter... colde

nd consumi