Kamrynn
The anxiety twists deep in my stomach, an uncomfortable knot of dread that I can’t shake. My head throbs, the ache relentless. It’s almost time for Calvin to return, and the thought alone makes my entire body tense up. I’m so weak that even the weight of my bones feels unbearable. I’ve barely eaten in days—he only let me have food two days ago, leftovers I was forced to eat off the floor like some wild animal. My stomach growls, hollow and painful, but there’s nothing I can do.
I run my tongue over my dry, cracked lips and look down at myself. Tears well up in my eyes before I can stop them. I’m nothing but skin and bones now, my body covered in bruises, scars, and sores. My ribs stick out sharply from beneath the rags I’ve been forced to wear. Every part of me hurts—my arms, my legs, my back. The chains bite into my wrists and ankles, and my hands and feet have gone numb from being restrained for so long.
How did it come to this?
I used to be strong. I used to be full of life. And now I’m a shadow, a slave, barely holding on. My hands tremble as I wipe at my tears. The pain in my chest, both from the hunger and from the heartache, is overwhelming. I want to scream at the Moon Goddess, curse her for forsaking me. I’ve cursed her so many times already. Why me? Why did everything have to be taken from me? Why was Sherelle murdered? Why did I get the blame? What was my crime—falling in love with Calvin? Or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time?
I want to scream. I want justice for Sherelle. I want the real killer to be found, but I know if I stay here, I’ll die before the truth ever comes out. I have to get away, for the sake of my child, if nothing else. I won’t let Calvin kill this baby like he killed the others.
Suddenly, I hear shouting outside. A commotion. My heart skips a beat, panic rising in my throat. What’s going on? Before I can figure it out, the door bursts open, and Lysaa rushes into the room, her face pale but determined, a key clutched in her hand.
“Lysaa?” I whisper, my voice hoarse from days of silence. “What are you doing?”
“I’ve got the key,” Lysaa pants, rushing to my side. “You need to get out of here. Now.”
“What?” My heart stutters in my chest. “How did you—how did you get the key from the Alpha?”
“Don’t worry about that,” Lysaa says quickly, unlocking the chains on my wrists. “I’ve created a distraction, but we don’t have much time. You need to leave.”
As soon as the cuffs come off, my hands fall limp at my sides. The numbness gives way to sharp pins and needles as blood rushes back into my fingers, and I wince at the sensation. Lysaa unlocks my ankles next, and I try to move, but my legs don’t cooperate. They’re too weak. I haven’t walked in days.
“I can’t…” I choke, my voice trembling with panic. “Lysaa, I can’t stand.”
“Hold on,” she says, grabbing a large blanket from the corner of the room. She wraps it around my shoulders like a shawl, covering my rags. “I’ll help you.”
She lifts me off the bed, her small frame stronger than I imagined. I cling to her as she helps me to my feet, my legs wobbling beneath me. My knees buckle, but Lysaa holds me steady.
“You have to walk, Kamrynn,” she urges, her voice firm. “I know it hurts, but you have to. We don’t have time.”
I nod, swallowing back the pain. “Okay.”
We move slowly toward the door, every step sending shooting pain through my legs, but I push through it. We make our way down the hall, my heart racing as I hear the commotion growing louder outside. I glance toward the window, and through the shadows of night, I see people running, shouting orders. The Pack is in chaos.
“What did you do?” I ask, breathless from the effort of walking.
“It’s not important,” Lysaa says quickly, her eyes darting around as we move. “What’s important is that you get out. There won’t be another chance like this.”
I want to ask more, but there’s no time. She’s right. This is my only chance, and I need to take it. Still, I can’t help but worry about Lysaa. What if she gets caught? What if she’s punished for helping me?
“Lysaa,” I whisper, my voice tight with fear. “If you get in trouble because of me…”
“Don’t worry about me,” she snaps, more harshly than I’ve ever heard her speak before. “I’ll be fine. You just need to go.”
We’re almost to the exit when a figure suddenly steps into our path. One of the Pack members. My heart stops.
Kamrynn “Where are you going with this skank?” he demands, his voice sharp.Lysaa doesn’t miss a beat. She straightens up, her expression fierce. “The Alpha’s orders,” she snaps back. “He wants her moved to the lower quarters. Now get out of our way.”He hesitates, clearly unsure. Lysaa glares at him, her expression full of authority I’ve never seen from her before.“Move,” she growls.The man steps aside, and Lysaa pulls me past him, not even giving him a second glance. I can barely breathe, my heart hammering in my chest, but we make it through the doors and into the night.The cold air hits my face, a sharp contrast to the stuffy room I’ve been chained in for so long. The darkness surrounds us, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I feel a sliver of hope.Lysaa helps me down the path, the blanket pulled tight around me to protect me from the chill. The Pack house is behind us now, but we’re not safe yet. I can still hear the shouts and the chaos, but it’s distant. No
Kamrynn "I’m not sure which hurts more—his hands or his words. Every time he touches me, it’s another reminder of how far I’ve fallen… and how much he despises me."The bedroom is cold, dark, and suffocating. Calvin’s room. No. The Alpha's bedroom. His territory. I’m on my back, staring at the ceiling, willing my mind to drift somewhere else—anywhere but here—while Calvin rams into me, his movements harsh and punishing. He doesn’t care about my pain. He never has. He’s lost in his hatred, every thrust a reminder that to him, I am nothing but a tool for his vengeance.His breath is hot on my neck, ragged and full of anger. My body lies limp beneath him, taking it, just like I always do. His hand tightens around my throat, and I know what’s coming before he even says it.“Look at me, you filthy slut.” His voice is ice cold, full of disgust. “Don’t you dare try to escape in your head. You’re not going anywhere.”He slaps me hard across the face. The sharp sting pulls me back to reality,
Kamrynn When I wake, the world is a blur of pain and darkness. My body feels as if it’s been shattered into a thousand pieces. But this pain is different. It isn’t just from the bruises or the beating. It’s deeper. Something sharp and unnatural twists inside me, tightening its grip on my stomach. I can feel something wet between my legs, sticky and warm.Blood.I gasp, panic flooding my chest. My arms are chained to the bed, and I’m too weak to even pull against the restraints. The metal bites into my skin as I shift, trying to move, trying to understand what’s happening. My stomach churns violently, and the pain intensifies, making me want to scream.Please, not again. Not another one.I close my eyes, willing the terror to go away. I know what this is. I know what it feels like when a child is lost, when your body rejects the life inside it. In the nine months that I’ve been Calvin’s slave, I’ve lost three children. Three tiny lives that I couldn’t protect, and each time, I’ve kept
Kamrynn The words hit me like a hammer to the chest, knocking the air from my lungs. I stare up at her, my heart pounding, the weight of her warning settling over me like a suffocating blanket. Never. Another. Child.I blink, trying to process what she’s just told me. My throat tightens, and a tear slips down my cheek. I’ve already lost three. I’ve already failed so many times.Lysaa squeezes my hand, her voice trembling. “Is there anything we can do?” she asks. “Anything at all?”Dr. Thorne sighs, her face softening slightly. “She needs rest. Complete rest. No more starving, no more beatings. No more... rough treatment. Her body is fragile right now. If the Alpha continues, it will be inevitable.”I close my eyes, fighting back the sob that threatens to escape. Rest? How can I rest when Calvin sees me as nothing more than an object for his rage? He’ll never let me rest. He’ll never let me protect this child.Dr. Thorne moves to the door, pushing it open slowly. Her brows furrow as
CalvinThere are no words to describe how much I hate her.Every time I look at her, it boils inside me, this burning rage that never dies. I thought I knew her once. I thought she was a good friend, someone I could trust. We grew up together—me, Sherelle, and her. We were inseparable, or so I thought. But all along, she was nothing but a manipulative, disgusting bitch who wanted to destroy my happiness.I can’t stand the sight of her. I hate everything about her. The way she looks at me with those wide, innocent blue eyes, like she’s done nothing wrong. Like she hasn’t ripped my life apart. The way she whimpers and shakes when I touch her, pretending she’s the victim when she’s the one who killed Sherelle. My Sherelle. My mate. My love.I don’t just hate her—I despise her. And I take pleasure in seeing her suffer. Every bruise, every scream, every tear—it’s justice. It’s what she deserves. I enjoy making her life a living hell, watching the light drain from her eyes as she realizes n