tang of her own despair. Darkness clawed at the edges of her vision, but she fought to stay conscious, her fingers digg

a harsh vo

over her, arms crossed, a scowl etched deep into her features. The

ssed, nudging Camille's side with the toe of her boot. The impact jolted throu

t made it hard to breathe. She wanted to curl up and disappear, to let the darkne

g you out myself,"

pport. Her head spun, and her vision blurred, but she forced herself to focus. She

back to work. The guests don't need to see

didn't trust her voice, didn't trust herself to speak without breaking down completely. Inst

murmur of voices. It felt like a mockery now, each sound a reminder of th

s and plates. It was a distraction, a small mercy that kept her from drowning in the sea of her own thoug

dn't avoid t

The Alpha rej

all people. Ca

e thought she was g

bled into her soul. Camille clenched her jaw, forcing herself t

and met Joffrey's eyes across the hall. He was speaking to a group of pack elders, his expression compose

omething flicker in his eyes. Regret? No. It was gone

e needed to get out of here. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think with the wal

loomed around her, dark and silent, the trees whispering secrets to the wind. Camille press

d to be like this. She'd dreamed of meeting her mate, of feeling that unbreakable bond, that pure, unta

iffen. She wiped her tears hastily, not wanti

mil

Ethan, one of the pack warriors. He was older than her, with kind brown eyes and a face that

pened," he said s

e lump in her throat was too thick, the wor

know this doesn't mean much right now, but... you're str

tery smile. "I don't h

inged with sadness. "No, I suppose not. Bu

squeeze before walking back toward the packhouse. Camille watched him

Maybe she was stro

p her stand, to take a deep, shuddering breath and lift h

dows, she felt a familiar presence behind her. The hair on the back of he

mil

mething she couldn't quite place. Anger? Regre

than she intended. She turned to face him, keep

des, his eyes dark and stormy. For a moment, he said nothing

out here alone,"

Worried I might get hurt? You made it pret

tion she couldn't decipher. He took a step clos

ped. "You rejected me, Joff

hardened. "I di

oice breaking. "You d

e stretching between them like a chasm. Fina

he said, his voice hollow

ake her eyes off him. For the

ffrey," she whispered. "And one day

almost vulnerable. But then the mask was back, and he walked away

a little less sharp now. She wasn't sure wha

to let him break