CHAPTER 3

EDAL

“Look at her, locking herself in like the pathetic little breeder she is.”

The words came through the door like needles, sharp and precise, and I pressed my back against the wood so hard I felt the grain bite into my skin.

“Did you see her face when Alpha announced Vex as his Luna?” Another voice, higher, meaner. “She actually looked like she was going to cry. Right there in front of everyone.”

“A human playing Luna. Can you imagine? She probably spread her legs and begged him to keep her.”

“Well, it didn't work, did it? He found a real mate. A wolf. Someone worthy of him.”

Laughter. Cruel and bright, bouncing off the walls like they were performing for an audience. Maybe they were. Maybe the whole pack had gathered outside my door to watch me burn.

“What did she think was going to happen? That he'd actually keep her? She's a breeder. That's all she'll ever be.”

“A warm hole to fuck until something better came along.”

“And now something better is here.”

I dug my nails into my arms until I felt the sting of broken skin. I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't give them that satisfaction. I'd sit here in the dark and take it, like I'd taken everything else, because that's what breeders did. We took it. We shut up. We knew our place.

Except I didn't know my place anymore. I thought my place was beside him. I thought I meant something.

The voices faded after a while, their laughter echoing down the hallway, and I stayed on the floor, staring at the crack of light under the door, watching the moon move across the window. The clock struck eleven. Then midnight. The house grew quiet. Everyone was asleep now … or pretending to be, gathered around their new Luna, whispering about how much better she was than the breeder.

Then I heard footsteps I knew those footsteps. The heavy drag of his boots The key turned in the lock.

Rylan stood in the doorway, backlit by the hallway light, his face half in shadow. His grey eyes were cold.

“Get up,” he said.

“Get the fuck out.” My voice came out raw, shredded from holding back screams. He crossed the room anyway. Dropped a canvas bag on the bed. It landed with a heavy thud … packed full, stuffed tight, prepared.

“Supplies,” he said. “Food, water, a knife, bandages. Enough to get you to the border.”

I stared at the bag. Then at him.

“You're kicking me out. In the middle of the night. Like a dog.”

“I'm letting you go.” He said it like he was doing me a favor. Like I should be grateful.

“There's a human settlement three days south. You'll make it.”

“Three days through wolf territory.” I stood up, my legs shaking beneath me.

“Alone. With nothing but a bag of scraps. Because you found a new woman to warm your bed.”

Something flickered across his face … guilt? regret? … but it was gone before I could name it.

“Vex is my fated mate. You were a breeder. There's a difference.”

“A breeder?” My voice cracked.

“After two years of holding me, fucking me, telling me I was yours … that's all I am to you?”

“That's all you ever were.” His voice didn't waver. His eyes didn't blink.

“You just forgot your place.”

“Fuck you, Rylan.” The words tore out of me, ugly and desperate.

“Fuck you and your mate and your whole fucking pack. I loved you. I gave you everything. I let you fuck me like I meant something. And now you're calling me garbage?”

“Because that's what you are.” He stepped closer, his grey eyes boring into mine.

“You're garbage. You're a hole I used for two years. You're nothing. You were nothing before me, and you'll be nothing after me.”

“You don't mean that.”

“I mean every word.” His voice was cold and his eyes locked into mine

“Now take the bag and get out before I make you get out.”

I wanted to kill him. I wanted to grab the knife from that bag and drive it into his chest and watch the light leave those cold grey eyes. I wanted to scream until my lungs gave out. I wanted to beg him to tell me this was a joke, a test, anything but the truth.

I did none of those things. I just stood there, bleeding on the inside, and let him destroy me.

“Run, Edal.” He shoved the bag toward me.

“Don't look back. Hate me if you need to.”something in his voice cracked. Just for a second. I grabbed the bag. Walked past him without looking at his face.

“I hope she tears your heart out,” I said, my back to him, my hand on the doorframe.

“I hope she uses you and throws you away, just like you did to me. I hope you die alone, Rylan. I hope no one comes to save you.”

He didn't answer but I ran anyways. I ran through the gate. Past the tree line. Into the woods.