Broken by the Alpha, Reborn as Queen

ett

ifference to active, suffocating hostility. It had started with whispers-sidelong

ed to yet another administrative task because the Alpha coul

oice boomed against the mahogany walls as he strode in. He wasn't

htly as I pointed to the blue folder on the desk. "

open. His face darkened, a storm cloud settli

ring in my chest. "No, that's impos

her manicured nails. "Maybe she misplaced them, Garrison. It's

acks of correspondence. The papers were gone. I knew

my voice rising an octave in des

d, slamming the folder shut. "Or are you sim

warring with my pride. It was the *Command*-the biological authority he held over ev

e apology tasting like bile. "I'l

Keyla, do you have copies of the bo

eek tablet from her designer bag. "I be

, unadulterated disgust. "Get o

ied on my cheeks, ending up in the one place that still felt li

harsh light of a magnifying lamp. Usually, this place smelled of dried sage

om

flying behind her back to hide th

mell?" I asked,

e pulled the plant back into view. It was a purple flo

eavy on my tongue. "That is stric

warriors' barracks," Mom said grimly. "This wasn'

ould d

looked at me, her eyes narrowing with a healer's intuition. "I went to

nd

ned. "And beneath that cloying perfume she wears... I smelled soil

ou think Keyla is poi

k is vulnerable without her resources," Mom said darkly. "And to

to tell G

ear us. Not without irrefutable proof

her win? We let

rce. I found tracks leading toward the old hunting cabin in

ome wit

oth disappear, it looks suspicious. Go to the dinner tonight. Hold your head high. Let me

dread coiled in my stomach, distinct fr

reful,

my litt

seat that should have been mine. She had "accidentally" spilled red wine on my pale silk

d loudly to the table of Elders. "But I suppos

en who respected power above all else, and they sensed th

d been feeling strange surges of fever, followed by sharp, grinding pains in my

ly I could hear. "Enjoy the meal, Janette

Her eyes were cold, dead thin

with it," I whispere

r pupils dilated, swallowing the i

eezing the feverish heat in my blood. I

g up abruptly, my chair scra

rrison commanded, not l

asped, panic claw

e boomed, laced with a crus

ced back into the chair, tears of frustration stinging my eyes. I was a pris

mered a frantic rhythm against my ribs. *Mom,* I called out in the Min

le

ilence where my mother's