THE ALPHA KING'S LOOT

s came for

less, too exhausted to fight, too hollow to care. They bathed me in water that smelled of roses-a cruel mockery of the ashes still clinging to my soul.

mistake," I

lied, her voice trembling. "Please, my lady.

punish e

eyes and let

d stone, the chain on my wrist clinking with every step. Guards flanked me on both sides, their ey

asting flickering shadows across the faces of the gathered wolves. There were hundreds of them-warriors, nobles

eated on a throne of black

His crown rested on his dark hair, a circlet of iron and obsidian. His eyes

rying across the silent hall

body-my crimson gown, my silver hair, my chained wrist. S

forward. I would not cower

e him-a smaller throne, draped in blac

not

is voice was soft, but t

will not sit beside the ma

torches seemed to dim, as if th

liberate. The crowd parted before him, their faces pale with fear. He stopped before me, cl

etly, "or I will drag you to that cha

My heart pounded. B

monster," I

kind smile. "Yes. And yo

t he did not stop. He pulled me up and shoved me onto the smaller throne beside his own.

his seat. "Now smile, little w

east

ophony of celebration. They spoke of the war-of the Silvermoon Pack's destruction, of their own glory, of the spoils they had claimed. They spoke of my fath

still, my hands clenched in my l

t eating,"

not hu

will

ill

u remember what I told you this morning, Elara?

ed to ice. "Y

tured to a guard. "Br

thinking. "Please. Don't. I'll

with satisfaction

lf to take a bite. It tasted like ash. I swallowed, a

he com

wallow was a defeat. But I ate-for Emma, for

aming with amusement. Some whispered to each

vermoon," one said.

r murmured. "I wonder if

ds shook with rage. But I kept eati

to my ear. His breath was warm against my skin

ast co

gan to dance-wild, frenzied movements that echoed the chaos of war.

the faces in the crowd-the warriors who had slaughtered my pack, the nobles who had c

en I s

m

ide with terror. She was not alone. Two guards stood beside her, their ha

he said. "The whelp. I though

pped. "What

ra. Every time you defy me, someone pays the price. An

"Please. I did what you

was cold. "You called me a monster in front of my people. You e

he guards beside Emma

orward," Kae

ily, his arms wrapping around my waist and pulling me back. I st

as sobbing, her small body shaking. "Please," she begged

e," Kae

. "You will watch, Elara. You

d drew h

ything! I'll be your slave! I'll be w

ent. Then he nodded to the gua

said. "You

dragged back to the corner, still crying. The wolves around us

lf?" he whispered. "You can fight me. You can hate me. But in the

st continued as if nothing had happened. The mu

en and weeping, my heart sha

ght wo

el's throne, too weak to move, too exhausted to cry. My tears had dried. My bo

en I h

mind. A voice th

ar

rm, gentle, like a memory from anot

t alone. You have

s. A tear slipp

your veins. You are a daughter of the moon. You are

will sur

ving behind a warmth in my chest-a spa

o

n at me, his eyes narrowing

there, staring up at him, th

orced me to look at him.

y, "because you have not bro

h fury. He raised h

en he

air. His expression shifted-from fury to confusion to so

you?" he

f Alpha Theron. Princess of Silve

s eyes were dark, unreadable. He turned

him speak to Valerius-

urmured. "Something I have never see

Valerius said. "S

ting in the torchlight. "Yes. But also... fascinating. I will n

ving me alone on th

was no

hoed in my mind, a p

tronger than he knows. And when the time

laughed and danced and drank. Kael sat on

the chain around my wrist

survi

, I will ma