a swarm of insects, buzzing in her ears, biting int

e carry a hu

s would never bl

ed. She can'

h. Each whisper a k

ed against her. The heat of their stares pressed in from every side, suffocating

r fingers into a fist, nails slicing into her palm until blood welled, but still the glow remained. No ma

part. To bleed until the shame was gone. But the

there was

fath

his sides. His eyes those familiar storm-gray eyes that once looked upon

s she squealed with joy. This was not the gaze of the father who told her bedtime sto

he gaze of

pl

not moved. His Alpha aura pressed against her c

re her entire pack, and admit that before her wolf even stirred awake, a shadow in the night

ongue shriveled. Her lip

lence cond

ened, his voice cutting

remony

most scornful, a few smug in their vindication. Murmurs rose like wild

not c

s cur

ng ruin if al

d, as though her presence defiled t

nd deeper than claws through flesh. Her wolf whimper

spered back in her

pack's voices crashed over her like waves; the next, her le

or

tongues. Through the corridors of the packhouse, through the endless stares of ser

ay tears Aria hadn't even realized

ce raw and broken. "Tell me the

e. But Elora had never lied to her, not once. And tonight, when the

d at last, her lip t

d, breaking into shards. She curled into herself, clutching her wrist against her chest as if hiding i

ed into sobs, wor

her own eyes. "Don't say that, Aria. Please don't. You'

my father..." Her throat constricted. A sob tore through her as she pressed her fists to her

ut no words of comfort could

e pack had

rd them. Their voices carried on

aughter is mar

heir to Si

exiled before s

other blade twis

oison, but Aria caught her wrist, her grip surprising

hear it. I dese

ow and defiant, but powerless

ting into her palms until they drew blood.

r slamm

pressing against her skin until her breath hitched. Even Elora, fierce and loyal, flinched u

rdered, his voic

ation flickering in her eyes.

ve.

t. Elora's lip trembled, but she obeyed, casting

ollowed was suffoc

daughter. His jaw was a line of stone, his shoulders r

ble sharp as a blade, "you

him with the only word that had alw

call m

ced deeper th

est hollowed. The man who had raised her, trained her, loved

ice cut deeper than the

demanded again, his ton

beg him to believe her. To protect her. But when she

t sounding weak? Without sounding defiled? Would he believe she fought

e shook her head, her voice

d to steel. With a sharp turn, he strode to the

Alpha." His voice was thunder, mercile

rt. The words left her s

d the silence left behind

t until her nails drew blood. She sobbed into the emptiness, he

What sin did I commi

, sharper now, spreading th

a looked at her? Like she

she i

d explain

rough the corridors, c

er heart breaking. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks. She wanted to rush in, to

would n

apart piece by piece

truth cam