Page 4

Sharp brown eyes run across the length of the small space, her small button nose scrunching up with disgust. "Dreadful." Her eyes finally focus on me. "Ronan tells me he's severed the bond between you two. I cannot for the life of me understand why he still chooses to keep you here."

Our talks always go this way. She berates me, reminds me that I am no one of consequence and would never deserve her son. Then she offers me money to leave—quite the attractive sum, which I would almost immediately turn down and assure her I was here to stay.

Right now, though, I have nothing to say. I'm not sure what to even feel. Shame. Ire. Hate. Anger. All of the above.

"You cannot live here, regardless of what Ronan thinks. Should your relationship get out any more than it already has, we will all be ruined." She pauses, searching my eyes with a keenness that is so much like Ronan. "You will leave the pack before dawn and never come back."

A bitter laugh slips past my lips. "Ronan will never let me go."

She goes on like I haven't spoken a word.

"In thirty minutes, there'll be a guard shift.

I'll see to it that the next rotation is delayed—just long enough for you to slip out unnoticed.

" She tosses a bundle of crisp bills at my feet.

"Take it, child. Consider it payment for your services and keeping your mouth shut. "

I pick the money off the floor only to cross the distance and shove it back in her palm. "I don't want your money."

Annoyance flashes across her face, but then she goes utterly still. Her nostrils flare, and she steps closer, fingers clamping around my arm as she inhales sharply. Her brown eyes widen.

"You're pregnant."

Panic grips me, sharp and sudden. I jerk back, prying myself from her grasp. She wasn't supposed to know. Now they'll trap me here. Force me to?—

Kaida waves a hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter.

Tova's child will be the heir. Get rid of it and any delusions that it changes anything.

As you have come to know, Ronan doesn't care for anything that doesn't benefit him.

As it stands, there's a high chance the child is another wolfless mutt like you. "

My head goes quiet. "It is mine," I say in a voice that doesn't entirely belong to me.

I lean into her so close, I see the black of her eyes widen in shock.

"Keeping it is my choice because it is mine.

Insult me all you want but if you so much as utter another word about my child, I'll forget who you are. "

For the first time, Kaida hesitates. She blinks, fast and disbelieving, as if she's seeing me for the first time. Then, with a sharp exhale, she turns on her heel and storms out of my room.

Thirty minutes later, the guard outside retreats, and true to her word, when I step out, no one stops me.

Though I don't look back, it feels like I left a part of me behind.

I'm being followed.

I hadn't been sure at first, but the shuffling behind me has been going on for more than half an hour, even when I've diverted routes, tried doubling back, even stopped once to listen.

There are two footsteps. Maybe three. Goddess.

I don't break my stride, fingers tightening around the hilt of my butter knife. It's a pathetic weapon, but I grip it like a lifeline. My heart pounds as I step over another fallen tree.

Light flickers in the distance—streetlights. The road must be close by. My ears perk at the sound of a car speeding past in the distance. If I could get on the?—

Something thuds behind me.

I whirl, wild-eyed, panting.

Something flashes in the dark. A pair of glowing eyes.

I break into a run, tripping over roots, branches slicing my skin.

A dark laugh echoes, sending ice down my spine. I sprint, tripping over roots, branches slicing my skin. My lungs burn and my heart pounds harder.

The shuffling feet close in, taunting whistles instilling fear inside me. I push past the panic, making it just shy of the pavement before a hand yanks me back by my bag, ripping it off me.

I veer, twisting to face them. My chest heaves. There are two of them, nearly twice my size, bulky enough to snap me in half if they wanted.

I retreat a single step back.

The taller one of the two with gaunt cheeks and pitch black eyes smiles so wide, his eyes crinkle shut. "The Luna sends her regards." I have barely enough time to process his words before he tilts his head towards his partner. "Get her."

I don't think. I swing the knife, slashing wildly. It cuts through flesh and there's a roar of pain.

My fist slashes again but a hand grabs my arm. I shriek, jerking and my elbow smashes into something solid. A nose? A jaw? A pained grunt tells me I hit something, and then I thrash like a wild animal.

The knife slices again and someone stumbles back, cursing. I lurch forward, snarling as I drive my knee up. Bone meets bone and a painful howl splits the air.

I wrench free, only to get backhanded so hard, the world blotches temporarily. "Stupid bitch."

A brutal punch to my ribs seizes my breath completely. Another to my stomach and pain splinters through my torso. I gasp, knees buckling. Before I can fall, another blow comes and I only have enough strength to shield my stomach before it lands.

A boot connects with my wrist and I scream at the pain. But I don't let go, digging my nails deeper into my skin as I hang on tighter, as if I can protect my child with sheer will.

I try to lurch away but my movements are too slow and I am caught by a hand in my hair that yanks me backward. Agony. I barely register the sharp pain in my neck before a punch crashes into my temple. My ears ring. The world tilts.

Blood fills my mouth.

Another hit lands on my lower back and I cry out as agony tightens my stomach. A worse pain, deeper, sharper, rends me in half. Something wet trickles between my legs.

No.

Gods, no. Please...

A low, amused voice murmurs, "Persistent little thing, isn't she?"

A vicious hand cracks against my jaw. I trip, my foot catching on a jagged stone, and suddenly, I'm falling.

Something solid smashes against my skull and I hear a sickening crack.

My vision bursts white, then black. My body stops feeling like my own.

"Shit," someone curses, but the sound is distant.

Then everything goes quiet.