Phoebe’s POV
Restlessness had consud since dawn. My heart hamred against my ribs with painful intensity, though I couldn’t pinpoint why. The thought of seeking out a healer crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it.
Today held too much significance. Everyone scrambled to prepare for the new alpha’s initiation ceremony. Ogas darted through the halls, frantically following orders from their superiors to ensure perfection.
The king’s attendance only heightened the pressure—no one dared slack off.
Seeking dical attention would only invite trouble. They’d brand lazy, another excuse to tornt further. I’d endured enough of their cruelty already.
"What are you gawking at?! Move!" Miss Kira’s vicious bark cut through my thoughts. Her glare burned into , her round face and full lips permanently twisted into a scowl. As the senior oga overseeing pack house operations, she wielded fear like a weapon.
Everyone cowered before her, but I remained her favorite target—I never fought back, never gave her the satisfaction of a reaction.
Emptiness had hollowed out long ago. Pain no longer registered. Food turned to ash in my mouth, every al flavorless and bland. I’d grown numb to it all.
Once, I’d tried ending the misery with a blade, but Kevin discovered before I could bleed out. He’d chained to his bed for weeks, ensuring I couldn’t harm myself again. The helplessness of being restrained, unable to move—I’d rather die than endure that torture again.
Now I simply existed, going through the motions.
"Move!" Kira shrieked directly in my face.
Despite the ache spreading through my chest, I continued my duties. My body begged for rest after Kevin had used until morning, but I pushed through the exhaustion.
Sleep eluded anyway. I despised every mont spent with him, though struggling only fueled his sick pleasure. I refused to give him that satisfaction.
My luck soured when I stumbled upon Reginald tangled with an oga in one of the guest rooms I was ant to clean. Of course I’d find the most disgusting trash here.
"What are you staring at? Get out!" Reginald’s savage snarl filled the room when he spotted .
Without a word, I turned and left. My expression remained unchanged—no surprise, no emotion. My indifference clearly infuriated him.
The ceremony wouldn’t begin for two hours. Plenty of ti for Reginald to prepare, no need to rush.
"Where are you going?" the oga whined as Reginald pulled away, leaving her naked and wanting as he climbed from the bed.
He threw on his clothes and stord after , catching up just as I rounded the corridor corner.
His hand clamped around my elbow, slamming against the wall.
"Don’t you dare ignore !" Reginald’s fingers wrapped around my throat. "Such a waste you turned into a runt."
My eighteenth birthday had broken sothing inside —I still couldn’t shift into wolf form. Everyone assud I’d beco a runt, a shifter who couldn’t shift. Bad luck personified, a rejected soul.
Now people touched their ears when they passed , warding off my supposed curse.
Such superstitions didn’t stop Kevin from taking his pleasure from nearly every night. Nothing discouraged his twisted obsession.
"You told to leave. I left," I stated flatly, eting my stepbrother’s rage with empty eyes.
"Don’t talk back to !"
On any other day, I might have laughed at his contradiction—demanding I acknowledge him while exploding when I spoke. But amusent had died in long ago.
"Careful. The alpha will be pissed if you mark ," I said in the sa monotone that always enraged him further.
We weren’t close anymore. Reginald wanted his share of , but Kevin was possessive of his toys. He didn’t share.
Reginald could have when Kevin grew bored, when he was finished. But a year had passed, and his infatuation remained strong.
I was supposed to be his mate. No matter how many won he bedded, he always returned to . We weren’t the sa as his casual flings.
"Fuck you!" Reginald snarled, but I felt no fear. He could bark all he wanted—he wouldn’t dare touch .
Not after he nearly died six months ago when Kevin caught him trying to kiss . Only Caron’s intervention had saved Reginald from being torn apart.
"Let go." I pushed against him, but his grip on my throat only tightened.
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