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The pounding on the door worsens and I ignore it, stuffing my clothes—there are only a handful of them—into my duffel bag. "Seraphina," Ronan growls. "Open the d*mned door." Too many things to say. I have way too many things choking me up. And this rage I don't know how to handle. An obscenely loud rattle and the door bangs against the wall viciously. Ronan appears in the doorway, eyes swirling a dangerous gold as he notices my empty wardrobe and packed bags. His expression turns mu*derous. "What do you think you're doing?" "Leaving," I punctuate the word by shoving my only other pair of worn boots into the bag. He's crossed the room in a matter of seconds, snatching the bag from my grip and hurling it across the small room. "You will not." "Why?" I snarl, stepping up to him, fighting the monstrous aura that tries to force me to harken, to bow my head low and sink my knees to his feet. "Will I spread roses on your matrimonial bed and welcome your children with her?" Ronan grips my shoulders. "I beg you to calm down, Fina—" I push him off. "Don't tell me to calm down! It's all I've ever done where you're concerned. Patience while you hide our bond and court other women at the behest of your parents. Perseverance while I have to bear the scorn of your people who call me your wh*re while you sit there and do nothing to defend me. You asked for time. Two years, Ronan! Two years and you picked some random stranger—" "Tova isn't some random stranger!" he snaps, emotions flashing in his eyes. The sharpness in his tone takes me aback, forcing me to reconsider what I've been pushing from my mind. "You've been seeing her. How long have you been cheating on me?" Ronan blanches for a second. "That is hardly the point of this conversation, Seraphina—" "Tell me! That," my finger pokes into his chest, "is the least you owe me." His nostrils flare and his lips pull tight in displeasure. "I've known her since she was a child, but we only started seeing each other over a year ago. She always was taken with me. I saw the opportunity and did what was necessary." My mouth dries. "By necessary, you mean you slept with her. No. You've been sleeping with her. And me." Ronan's jaw tightens. "You know how long I have worked to gain control over even a fraction of the North. It was a small sacrifice to make for the greater good." He steps closer, hand rising to touch my face. I step out of his reach, but he moves with that eerie swiftness and cups my cheeks forcefully. "But I've only ever loved you, Seraphina, and believe it or not, this fixes everything." I rip his hands from my face. "No." My voice cracks. I hate that it sounds weak. "We're done. This—" I motion between us. "—it's over." It's not the first time I've had my heart broken. It's not the first time I've had to leave and start over. The urge to sit still and bawl presses down on me, but I shove it down, drawing strength from the ache I feel. Ronan's eyes darken. His lips curl into something ugly, something that doesn't fit his stunning face. "That isn't for you to decide. It never has been. I chose you, not the other way around. And until I say I'm done with you, you will remain here." His fingers dig into my waist. I flinch, trying to yank free, but his grip tightens. "Tova and I will marry." His hands trace up my ribs possessively. I shudder, hating him. Hating his scent of myrrh, hating the mating bond for pulling us together. "And you will be my mistress. When the wedding is done, I'll move you to one of my homes in the countryside. You'll have more than you could ever ask for—" I stopped hearing him at "mistress." Because suddenly, it hits me. The last two years. Everything I dreamed to be before I met him, everything I never wanted to be. Everything I have sacrificed to be here, unwittingly. When Ronan and I kicked off our relationship two years ago, I shared my plans with him. I shared my truths and weaknesses. Not out of naivety, but for honesty. It was one of the two things I asked of him. That he be completely honest with me. The latter being not to be made into a mistress. He promised me both. And he promised me love, even when I didn't ask him to. He promised loyalty. But that was the problem, wasn't it? That I believed him any different from the men in my life who always failed me. From the father who abandoned my mother and me to be with his real family, knowing full well she was pregnant. From her brothers, who cast out a woman heavy with child for her so-called promiscuity and turned their backs when her health declined, leaving a twelve-year-old to bear the weight of it alone. To work herself to the bone just to keep the bills paid, to scrape together enough for medicine. To endure the leering eyes of men. The wandering hands. To fight, claw, and ble*d just to exist in a world that had already decided she was nothing. And even in those moments where Mom's mind broke, she would still call for him. At some point, she was too far gone to remember my name. To care that I always gave her my dinner and never ate. That I looked ill and malnourished. But she never forgot his name. Baldwin. For a while, I stare at Ronan and wonder how I got here. Pregnant. About to be his mistress. A violent shudder racks my body. My stomach clenches so hard I nearly retch as I say the words, "I would rather d*e than be your mistress." Ronan goes rigid. "What did you say?" I ball my fists and lift my chin. "I'd rather d*e than be your mistress and after tonight, I do not want to be your anything. Marry Tova, give her your children. That is your choice to make. What I will not accept is you dictating the way I live out the rest of my life. You do not own me. I chose to be with you and I can choose to leave, on my own terms." The shift is startling. One moment he's peering down at me in confusion, like he cannot wrap his head around the concept of me leaving, and in the next, he snarls at me dangerously. "You have no one left who cares whether you live or d*e. You're an Omega who can't even shift to save herself. Yet you act like you're more than that. Like you deserve more." His big hands brace my waist, "No, Fina. The only reason anyone would ever keep you around is for a quick f*ck—" It shouldn't have been easy to push him off. But I barely register what I have done until the slap echoes throughout the room, snapping his head to the side. "You," I pant, tears filling my gaze, bitterness clogging my throat, and for a moment, I struggle with words. "Are the absolute worst." Silence falls, filled only with harsh breathing, and when Ronan's brown eyes find mine again, they are hateful. He brings his fingers to his left cheek that has grown red and murmurs, "You forget yourself, Seraphina. But then, mingling with servants always did make them forget they are worth nothing." The insult feels like a stab to my chest and the tears burn harder. I don't let them fall, not even when he adds, "I, Ronan Callahan, reject you, Seraphina Everly." The pain in my chest is overwhelming, much like my soul being rent into two, and I bite my bottom lip until I taste blo*d, pierce my palms with my fingernails until I feel blo*d drip from them, all to dull the ache and keep from crying out. He doesn't deserve a single tear. Eyes blazing, I hold his stare. "I accept." Ronan's eyes widen, like he expected me to grovel and cry for him to take his words back. But I've never been that woman and he must see it in my eyes because he regards me strangely. "Interesting." He heads out the door, red jacket swaying dramatically behind him and slams it shut. And I start to feel myself crumble when I hear the turn of the key. I rush forward, turning the knob. It doesn't give. I slam my fist into the door. "Ronan! You can't be serious." I ram my fist into the door, jostling it. "Ronan, let me out!" All I hear is his retreating footsteps. "Ronan!" I scream hoarsely, hitting the doors with my shoulders. "You crazy bastard!" A faint chuckle is all I get before the world outside falls completely silent. **** Ronan means to keep me locked up until I agree to be his mistress. The sheer madness of it sends me spiraling—laughing one moment, thrashing the room the next. Screaming. I have never felt so cornered. So trapped. I receive one meal a day. Porridge. He's trying to starve me as well, but I barely feel it. The confinement is what drives me crazy. I place a hand to my stomach, feeling it out. Where would I go? How do I hope to raise a child when I am currently penniless? If I did end up escaping, with what money would I travel so far that Ronan would never find me? Telling him the truth and agreeing to his terms would be a wiser choice, for the sake of our child, but the thought leaves me nauseated and angrier. I know instantly that I'd rather eat dust. The continuous tapping against the floorboard outside alerts me to the presence of the guard outside, monitoring me in case I somehow barreled through the door. Laughable, really. A muffled sound outside makes me sit up and reach for the butter knif* under my pillow. "...let me through this instantly." Luna Kaida? I'm on my feet in an instant, taking the knif* with me as I approach the door. Another voice, raspy and manly. "She receives no visitors. The Alpha's orders..." The words get lost to me and only a moment later, the door unlocks. Luna Kaida walks in, her black ceremonial robes trailing behind her, though, she looks like anything but a grieving wife. Sharp brown eyes run across the length of the small space, her small button nose scrunching up with disgust. "Dreadful." Her eyes finally focus on me. "Ronan tells me he's severed the bond between you two. I cannot for the life of me understand why he still chooses to keep you here." Our talks always go this way. She berates me, reminds me that I am no one of consequence and would never deserve her son. Then she offers me money to leave—quite the attractive sum, which I would almost immediately turn down and assure her I was here to stay. Right now, though, I have nothing to say. I'm not sure what to even feel. Shame. Ire. Hate. Anger. All of the above. "You cannot live here, regardless of what Ronan thinks. Should your relationship get out any more than it already has, we will all be ruined." She pauses, searching my eyes with a keenness that is so much like Ronan. "You will leave the pack before dawn and never come back." A bitter laugh slips past my lips. "Ronan will never let me go." She goes on like I haven't spoken a word. "In thirty minutes, there'll be a guard shift. I'll see to it that the next rotation is delayed—just long enough for you to slip out unnoticed." She tosses a bundle of crisp bills at my feet. "Take it, child. Consider it payment for your services and keeping your mouth shut." I pick the money off the floor only to cross the distance and shove it back in her palm. "I don't want your money." Annoyance flashes across her face, but then she goes utterly still. Her nostrils flare, and she steps closer, fingers clamping around my arm as she inhales sharply. Her brown eyes widen. "You're pregnant." Panic grips me, sharp and sudden. I jerk back, prying myself from her grasp. She wasn't supposed to know. Now they'll trap me here. Force me to— Kaida waves a hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter. Tova's child will be the heir. Get rid of it and any delusions that it changes anything. As you have come to know, Ronan doesn't care for anything that doesn't benefit him. As it stands, there's a high chance the child is another wolfless mutt like you." My head goes quiet. "It is mine," I say in a voice that doesn't entirely belong to me. I lean into her so close, I see the black of her eyes widen in shock. "Keeping it is my choice because it is mine. Insult me all you want but if you so much as utter another word about my child, I'll forget who you are." For the first time, Kaida hesitates. She blinks, fast and disbelieving, as if she's seeing me for the first time. Then, with a sharp exhale, she turns on her heel and storms out of my room. Thirty minutes later, the guard outside retreats, and true to her word, when I step out, no one stops me. Though I don't look back, it feels like I left a part of me behind. **** I'm being followed. I hadn't been sure at first, but the shuffling behind me has been going on for more than half an hour, even when I've diverted routes, tried doubling back, even stopped once to listen. There are two footsteps. Maybe three. Goddess. I don't break my stride, fingers tightening around the hilt of my butter knif*. It's a pathetic we*pon, but I grip it like a lifeline. My heart pounds as I step over another fallen tree. Light flickers in the distance—streetlights. The road must be close by. My ears perk at the sound of a car speeding past in the distance. If I could get on the— Something thuds behind me. I whirl, wild-eyed, panting. Something flashes in the dark. A pair of glowing eyes. I break into a run, tripping over roots, branches slicing my skin. A dark laugh echoes, sending ice down my spine. I sprint, tripping over roots, branches slicing my skin. My lungs burn and my heart pounds harder. The shuffling feet close in, taunting whistles instilling fear inside me. I push past the panic, making it just shy of the pavement before a hand yanks me back by my bag, ripping it off me. I veer, twisting to face them. My chest heaves. There are two of them, nearly twice my size, bulky enough to snap me in half if they wanted. I retreat a single step back. The taller one of the two with gaunt cheeks and pitch black eyes smiles so wide, his eyes crinkle shut. "The Luna sends her regards." I have barely enough time to process his words before he tilts his head towards his partner. "Get her." I don't think. I swing the knif*, slashing wildly. It cuts through flesh and there's a roar of pain. My fist slashes again but a hand grabs my arm. I shriek, jerking and my elbow smashes into something solid. A nose? A jaw? A pained grunt tells me I hit something, and then I thrash like a wild animal. The knif* slices again and someone stumbles back, cursing. I lurch forward, snarling as I drive my knee up. Bone meets bone and a painful howl splits the air. I wrench free, only to get backhanded so hard, the world blotches temporarily. "Stupid b*tch." A brutal punch to my ribs seizes my breath completely. Another to my stomach and pain splinters through my torso. I gasp, knees buckling. Before I can fall, another blow comes and I only have enough strength to shield my stomach before it lands. A boot connects with my wrist and I scream at the pain. But I don't let go, digging my nails deeper into my skin as I hang on tighter, as if I can protect my child with sheer will. I try to lurch away but my movements are too slow and I am caught by a hand in my hair that yanks me backward. Agony. I barely register the sharp pain in my neck before a punch crashes into my temple. My ears ring. The world tilts. Blo*d fills my mouth. Another hit lands on my lower back and I cry out as agony tightens my stomach. A worse pain, deeper, sharper, rends me in half. Something wet trickles between my legs. No. Gods, no. Please... A low, amused voice murmurs, "Persistent little thing, isn't she?" A vicious hand cracks against my jaw. I trip, my foot catching on a jagged stone, and suddenly, I'm falling. Something solid smashes against my skull and I hear a sickening crack. My vision bursts white, then black. My body stops feeling like my own. "Sh*t," someone curses, but the sound is distant. Then everything goes quiet.