Three

My hands were still shaking when I burst into the back hallway.

I passed the bathing room. Some of the girls were washing themselves. One sat naked in the corner, knees pulled to her chest, crying into her arms. Another stood over her, irritated.

“Was that your first time getting fucked?” she said. “You need thicker skin. This is how it works.”

“It’s not fair,” the crying girl whispered. “We’re just toys. They toss us away when they’re done. I’d give anything to leave. Anything.”

I did not stop.

I ran down the narrow corridor to my room. Calling it a room was generous. It was a storage space with a thin mattress and a door that barely closed.

I locked it. Then I dropped to my knees and pried up the loose floorboard.

The clay pot was still there.

Moonshade paste.

My hands shook so badly I struggled with the lid.

Tonight was lining up too perfectly with my grandmother’s stories. The way the brothers had looked at me. The way they had closed in. 

If we had not been in public, they would have torn into each other.

I had to leave. I had to run.

I mixed the paste with water and ash. My fingers slipped. There was only enough for a few more uses, but that no longer mattered.

I pulled down my collar and smeared it over the mark. The burn made me hiss.

The heat faded slowly. I was lifting my collar when footsteps stopped outside my door.

“Lira!”

The breeding matron.

I shoved the pot back under the floor and yanked my collar higher.

“Open this door now or I’ll break it down!”

My fingers fumbled with the lock. I opened the door.mHer face was tight with anger.

“What is wrong with you?” she snapped. “Three powerful alphas showed interest in you and you ran off like an idiot?”

“Lady Selena dismissed me.”

“Well, Lady Selena wants you now. Move.”

Fear crawled up my spine.

She grabbed my arm and dragged me down the hall. We stopped near Lady Selena’s private rooms. The matron shoved me forward and stepped back.

Lady Selena stood waiting.

Her rage filled the space.

“Kneel.”

I hit the floor hard. Stone bruised my knees.

She paced, then stopped in front of me. “What did you do?”

“I don’t understand, my lady.”

She hit me.My head snapped sideways. Pain burst across my face.

“Do not insult me. What did you do to make all three alphas want you?”

“I didn’t do anything,” I gasped. “I was serving drinks.”

“I hate liars.” Her voice went flat. “You are omega trash. So you did something. What was it?”

She turned to the matron. “What do you know about her?”

“Very little,” the matron said. “She pretends to be modest. Never shifted. Useless.”

Selena laughed.

“Even worse than I thought,” she said. “Can’t even function properly.”

Her gaze sharpened as she looked at me.

“I’ll give you to General Knox.”

My blood went cold.

“Knox enjoys force,” she continued. “He keeps many girls. They rarely last long. But you’ll stop being my problem.”

“Please,” I cried out. “I’ll stay away. I won’t go near them again.”

She did not look at me.

“Arrange it now,” she said to the matron. “She leaves tonight.”

The matron grabbed me. Then another voice cut through the hall.

“There she is.”

Lady Astoria entered in silk and perfume.

“The Triad Alphas are asking for Lira.”

Selena’s face drained, then flushed.

“That’s impossible.”

“My husband says we give them whatever they ask for,” Astoria said calmly. “You know what this alliance means.”

“She’s already been sold to General Knox,” Selena snapped. “And she is not fit for them.”

Astoria laughed. “Is this about Alpha Kain? Are you jealous?”

“This has nothing to do with that,” Selena snapped. “She leaves tonight.”

She turned sharply to the matron.

“Fetch Knox. Tell him his property is ready.”

I stood there, frozen.

Maybe being sold to Knox was the better end.

At least then I would not have to watch my mates destroy each other because of me.