CHAINED TO SIX BLOODTHIRSTY KINGS

inally going to change, a

d inside my head. I stood in front of the mirror,

s the Mati

ed in the grand hall to find their mates. Under the full mo

wanted someone to love me for who I was. I wa

ters. The smell of roasted meat and pine smoke hung i

the crowd, loo

e were alone and kissed me when no one was watching. He al

*We just have to wait

ed him e

ing proved he cared. Every stolen kiss

liar scent

ate an

l, and my wolf le

ried. *Lyra,

an standing in the middle of the hall. Da

yes. The A

ything finally made sense. Maybe he had been wa

called, hurry

and my sm

d. His eyes were

he raised his hand. The music stopp

reject you, Lyra

t him, una

d my entire life for this night, and in on

e pain

knees gave way, and I fell onto the marble floor. I clutch

lf cried out in pain.

her, but she

laughte

really just

pha's heir would choo

e! She should ha

barrassin

These were people I had grown up with,

Chloe Bennett stan

st fr

me how beautiful I looked. Now she covered her mouth as if

fear about my size, every dream about tonight. She had

I whisper

ser and looke

u honestly think I would accept a

burst into

re an oversized whale. Did you really

you loved me,

nly having fun. Did you really t

Every promise he had

im, but my throat was t

e said. "You're an embarrassment. No one wants a

ing!" some

give her

she could b

and wished the flo

my face. I had ne

e stepped

smile. "You should have kn

, you're my best friend

"I'm only tell

eard a loud r

lit open do

il the whole gown fell away from my body. In seconds, I was standi

wrapped my arms

skin, and I had ne

xploded wi

k at

mbarra

take a

around me. Peo

n, but shame h

sn't shocked, and she wasn't t

the dress herself, and she had sewn it to

ever been

time, hoping to find even a

was

eld the remains of my

cept your rejectio

, but she still didn't answer. I had lost my

ad felt like a hole

s best I could and

obody helped me. They only laug

forest with tears st

my chest hurt far more. I knew what they would call me tomorro

ill had

hold me. My brother would stand beside me. T

hat was wha

lace where I felt safe. I held onto

s I could and pushed

" I c

at me without a trace of sympathy. Behi

me like that. His eyes were c

e. Everyone laughed at m

en ask what had happened. Instead,

Take her. The

"What are you tal

dn't lo

e! I'm your

art began to pound. He wa

amed, and I

ore I could escape. I fought him,

losed aroun

trength drained away, and I couldn't feel my

th

u doing to m

y ans

ne last time, hoping he

ather ha

d his ba