mr

from my lungs. I stare up at her, my heart pounding, the weigh

Another

throat tightens, and a tear slips down my cheek. I've

trembling. "Is there anything we c

rest. No more starving, no more beatings. No more... rough treatment. Her

How can I rest when Calvin sees me as nothing more than an object for h

rrow as she speaks, "I'll come back to check on you in a few days,

r face resolute. "I'll

ok at me before leaving and

saa is in motion. Her eyes dart around the room,

she whispers urgently, already pulling at the c

gging at the fabric, careful not to let the bloodstains spread. I try to shift my body, but the c

her voice tight with concen

me. It's a delicate dance, and I can see the worry etched into her face as she hurries. She manage

, my throat dry. "Wh

looking down at me with wi

. "Everyone else in the Pack thinks I killed her.

et. She takes a deep breath, then looks at me with

you, Kamrynn. You have a kind heart. You've been through so much, an

y eyes. "But why? Why do you trust me

rs still gripping the sheet. "Do you remember when y

fused. "The

k doesn't always take care of the lower ranks. I was struggling to get enough food for th

sh me. Instead, you gave me food for the pups. You told me you'd help keep it quiet so I wouldn'

t tightening with emotio

yself that day that I would always help you however I could. I don't be

. Since the day Sherelle died, I've felt like there's no one left in the world who cares about me.

family and they sacrificed their lives to protect th

d now... it feels like she

e felt so alone since... since Sherelle died. I

a interrupts, her voice soft but f

yes with the back of my hand. "There's o

er brow furrowed in

an't stay here. If I do, he'll kill

glancing toward the door as if Calvin might barge in at any moment.

voice. "But I have to try. If I don't get out, I'll

y. "I'll find a way," she promises. "I d

's a sharp knock on the door. Both of u

glances at me, then hurries to the door, p

s h

g shadow into the room. His eyes are cold, calculating, as they

ce a little too calm, but I can he

to keep my expression neutral, to keep my eyes down, but I can feel my body trembling. The

Don't give him a

, his voice sharp an

thousand chains locking into place. I'm trapped. Trapped in this room, in this life, in this nightmare that

me before. My heart hammers in my chest, but it's not from panic-it's something darker. Str

a

used to hope-foolishly-that some part of him still remembered the girl I was. The girl who loved him with every piece of her heart. But now, look

and fiery, until I can barely contain it. He calls me a murderer, but what is he? He's killed three of our children-three liv

cream at him, to shout at him, to claw his eyes out and make him feel even a fraction of the pain he's inflic

o punish me. His green eyes once filled me with warmth. Now, they make my stomach churn. There's no trace of the boy I once knew in tho

e's only

anger in his face barely concealed. "Why are the sheets changed

speak without the venom pouring out, without revealing just how much I hate him. I used to fear him, cower beneath

thy whore," he snaps, stepping c

say, forcing the words out through clenched teeth. My body trembles-not in fea

g in the way he looks at me, as if he's searching for something he can use to hu

pression. It's subtle, but I see it. His gaze hardens even more, and hi

h hot against my skin, and

e in my veins. I can't move. I can barely breathe. I keep my head down, willing myself not to

ring on the edge of destruction. He's already murdered three of our children, taken them from me wi

dropping to a cruel whisper. "Answer