Forbidden Strings; Awakened By The Alpha

I dragged the third wooden bench across the stone floor of the grand pavilion, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. Sweat soaked through the collar of my faded tunic, gluing the coarse fabric to my back. My arms trembled from three solid hours of hauling furniture under the burning afternoon sun, but no one offered to help. Outcasts do not get help in the Silver Moon pack. We get work."Move those flower crates to the altar, Olivia!" Maya called out, her smooth, musical voice ringing across the open hall.I wiped my damp forehead with the back of my hand and looked over at my younger sister. Maya looked like a painted picture. Her golden hair fell in soft, flawless waves over her narrow shoulders, and her slim waist was wrapped in a tailored silk dress the color of fresh cream. She did not have a single smudge of dirt on her pale skin."I am almost done with the seating, Maya," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "The crates are heavy. I need a minute."Maya let out a short, h

"Help" Maya shrieked, her voice tearing through the quiet night.She threw herself against the floorboards, tearing the collar of her nightgown with her own manicured nails. Tears flooded down her cheeks in a frantic, desperate wave as she pointed a shaking finger toward the doorway."Help me, Someone help" she screamed, her voice echoing down the stone corridor. "He tried to force himself on me, Olivia helped him She set me up"I froze, my blood turning to ice in my veins. "Maya, what are you doing?" I gasped, taking an instinctual step backward into the hall."You brought me here" Maya wailed, scrambling backward into the corner like a wounded animal. "You told me Cassian was waiting for me in this room You wanted him to take me so I would not be pure for the ceremony""What.. I...I did no such thing" I shouted, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. "You came here on your own"Heavy, thundering footsteps tore down the hallway before I could process another breath.

A blinding surge of white hot lightning exploded through my veins, washing away the cold, heavy weight of my past in an instant. I let out a loud, breathless gasp, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck as the room began to spin."Look at her neck!" a council member shrieked, pointing at us as the crowd gasped in shock.A bright, golden crest was burning through my skin, shining so bright that it lit up the dark room. The mark of the Supreme Luna was sinking deep into my flesh, proving to everyone that a wolfless girl could bond with the strongest Alpha alive___I stood before the full length mirror in the grand guest room, smoothing down the soft fabric of my dark dress. The golden crest on my neck pulsed with a warm, steady thrum that buzzed straight into my heartbeat. I kept reaching up to touch it, half expecting the glowing mark to fade away like grease on water. But it remained firm, hot, and permanent against my skin."Stop picking at it," Lucian said, walking into the room