a's

of hell. A slow, burning torment that clung to

ay dog, their grip punishing, their silence worse. I stopped counting how many times I was thrown

ed their na

need to yell, his presence was enough to make the air brittle. His anger

ed to use but hadn't yet. He didn't speak much, but when he did, his

de hair and warm voice clashed with the others. He never defended me, not openly, but he w

reated me lik

t insults at me, slu

none of th

didn't know exactly what Lira had done to them, but the rage they car

ver seen them before, that I'd never rejected any bond-they dismissed me wit

Especially not to Monon. He took any word from my

. I didn't want mates like them anyway. I didn't want this life, this twisted fate. I just

d survive

. I endured it all without tears. Not because I wasn't breaking, but because I refused to let them see i

ldn't giv

rve on their

something else. S

ath my skin. I could feel it, especially when they were close. Like a storm in my blood I couldn't esc

d us together. But I wasn't sur

eaner ones the young servant girl had offered me. I wanted them to smell it, to feel disguste

se, they di

e, but they carried on like nothing was wrong. Maybe they w

from the couch. Said it was

t on the

er like the animal

understand-dignity didn't live in cushions or comfor

dling whatever business Alphas handled-I fi

ir laundry days ago. I filled the sink, scrubbing my shirt and pants by hand until my knuckles ached, until the water

like a shield. I stood under the spray far longer than I should have, letting the water strip a

er my skin. The scent reminded me of forests, of home, of anythi

The couch looked more inviting than it had in days. I kne

athing in the softness

r lasted long

r slamm

ver eyes locked on me like

s expression unrea

d earned from the shower va

ng?" Kael's voice cracked thr

because I feared them-but bec

was j

ith my damp clothes clutched in hi

r things? Who gave you per

ened, but n

e. No one to s

forward, cal

ell. He did

he asked coldly, his

hispered. "They were filth

ssion did

ing, he yanked the

y skin. Cold. Exp

ms over my chest, but I di

s suffocating, sha

wouldn

ould

bling, every instinct screami

I di

ting my chin just eno

look. Le

are-but he'd never

my w

my p

t