The stone floor of the basement cell was freezing, but Valerie's back was a sheet of roaring, unyielding fire. Every breath she took stretched the raw, yellowed edges of the five silver whip tracks crisscrossing her skin. The silver burn had settled deep, pulsing with an angry, throbbing infection that smelled faintly of copper and rot. She lay on her side, her teeth grinding together so hard they clicked, trying to keep her open wounds from touching the grime of the floor.Outside the rusted iron bars of her cell, a small transistor radio crackled to life on the guard's table. Static buzzed, followed by the booming, polished voice of the regional pack network announcer.Turn that up, Jace, a second guard muttered, his boots scraping against the concrete. The broadcast from the capital is starting.Yeah, hold on, Jace replied, the dial clicking as the audio cleared.and now, live from the Grand Lycan Elite Gala, the announcer's voice echoed down the damp corridor, crystal clear. We mo
Last Updated : 2026-07-08 Read more