ra

betrayal, they still pulsed beneath the surface, but I was too worn to feel them fully now. The Alphas had t

as all tha

ve been older than thirteen. His skin was a warm brown, and soft, woolly hair framed eyes that were an u

en summone

gut like a stone. My pulse quick

ollowed

one was grander open, expansive. The parlor and dining area merged into one elegant space. Three closed doors

owed. My sk

hey broug

riage? Did they expect- No. No. The thought made bile r

tic smile before slipping away, leavin

he en

I dropped my gaze instinctively. Meeting his eyes would only make

ourself comfortable

rt thundered in my ches

othes?" he press

he girl who'd helped me, not after she'd sh

ole t

shifted, suspic

laughter trailing behind t

ng over me. "Looks like you finally found somethi

t from shame, but fury. Th

pack for a man," I snapped, "but

opped like

turned lethal. "Let that be

was low.

d, but I swallowed it whole. Picking a

out as if the world bent to their whims. I sto

e. All that screwing around gave her some nerve. We'r

the gut-but before I could rea

ere from now on

ed, unsure if I'd heard r

washed

ying to control me,

. My voice scratched its way u

t be some

y would you want me here, in this room, with you? You've a

e punishment, but the bitterness was too strong. I couldn't h

stripped me of everything, my inheritance, my name, my dignity.

able, even. I only wanted fre

His breath was hot against my skin, his eyes l

that," he said softly.

ce held a kind of certainty

g darker flickered in his eyes-res

belong to us, Lyra. Even though you've defiled yours

. The words didn't make s

he continued, voice low with

ords came

r fated ma

. My heart thund

o

ated to them? Was

do, we weaken. Our power, our strength, it would all start to unravel. S

fore I could stop them. Their t

, then I was trapped. Lycans never rejected their fated

uld never

e was

I couldn't w