y hands had dried and cracked open again in the night. I s
"You look like death. G
ood into the stove. The heat burn
om the hallway. "Ember
led the tub. She stepped in and sighed like the water was pe
back,"
hile my own back ached from yesterday'
me. He wants to meet his bride before the wedding. Everyone i
moving. The cl
"I do not want him to see the slave daughter a
es
t prop
. I will stay
re you still crying about the papers?
od and held out her arms for the towel. I wrappe
place and become Luna of the strongest pack. Yo
ckets and left. In the h
ter. She is making this family
y mouth up. It hurt more
e guest rooms. Alpha Damon might send
gh my skirt. I changed the sheets. I dusted eve
a piece of bread. She dropp
k. Do not think it is kindness
ding. It was dry. I chewed and swallo
is the true daughter in every way that matters. They say you
odd
y i
e been left i
d and wal
boots were muddy again. I cleaned them on my knees. The
her friends from the pack. They
said. "The reason Silverf
her hands. Even the skin d
is useful for dirty work. T
Their words st
d them inside. Mother stood in
ear the front when Damon arrives
owed. "Y
the back. If I see your face near him I wi
, Mo
ay like I was
ned white and wrinkled. Blood from the cuts mixed with the w
was told to bring water for them. I carried the heavy jugs. Wolves too
thought they would h
real daughter. Tha
o train with the pups? She
arms trembled from the weight of the jugs
me on this pack every day you breathe. Why do you not
d not
closer.
not
. Everyone
ere with the empty jug until Sienna sh
he plate left for me had cold vegetables and a bone with a
look hungry and
ood tasted like noth
n the mattress and looked at my hands. The cuts were open aga
Celine stood ther
men today. The wedding is in ten days. Ten days and I am gone. You will
d at th
me when
oked
ers, do you not? Even knowing he kill
ll. "I only wanted so
is house. Not even your name. You are the
at my face. "You cried again
and close
m the day turned over and over. Mistake. Sham
I clean everything. I do not speak back.
ans
s again. My body moved on its own. The pa
uest rooms again. Th
ll when I went to draw water. They stopped talkin
he curse of
riage. Can you believe it? She wants
ush her toward the border an
y arms shook. One woman
ou. Even your own blood treats y
the ground. "I h
t. At least then the pack can
ck. Water spilled on my skirt because my hands would not st
d wash that. Do no
cold water until my fingers wen
e. I stood in the study with my head
e territory. You will stay in the cellar until they
, Fa
ill chain you there
derst
already open when I reached it. Sienna stoo
tay quiet. If I hear y
ock clicked. Darkness wrapped around me. I sat on the co
ine laughing. Mother giving orders. I stayed still
opened it was night. S
ep. Tomorrow you work doubl
In the kitchen a plate waited with bread an
at nothing. The words from the well women stayed in
ispered. "Please take me before he comes. I cannot watch her leave wi
ot wipe them. There was no one
n on itself. Every part of me hurt. The cuts. The bruises on my kne
pieces. Each time I woke
until the
l Celine left
t alone with the pack th
nd let the quiet sobs shake my shoul
g woul
would sta
would st
hter no one wanted, praying for a d
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