AVON POV


    Soph. B''yanked me through the troid, her smile stered on like cheap makeup. We pothed past the


    ring of ancient stones loomed against the moonlit sky.


    VIP only past this point, she muttered, her voice suddenly cold and unfamiliar


    The sit reeked of burning berba, making my head hury. At the center of the stone circle, a freakishly blue fire crackled, throwing weird shadows actasi of Shadow Creek''s elite. Every eye locked unto us like we were fresh meat,


    "Say hello to our pack''s inner circle," Sophin said, dropping my sins like it burned her. "They''ve been dying to meet mir... special guest."


    She stepped back, creating a gap between us that felt miles wide. The transturme


    in her hit


    mcker punch.


    "Got Future-wife stuff to handle," she said, eyes suddenly empty. Have fun.


    Before I could spit out a response, she''d spin awry, golden hair catching blue firelight as she vanished into the crowd, leaving me stranded in shark-infested


    waters.


    What the actual fuck? My got clenched as I realized the Sophia who''d fought beside me in that cer hadpletely ghosted nit. This stranger had just thrown me to the wolves.


    I straightened up, scanning for a friendly face anding up empty. Just as I weighed making a run for it, a tall woman broke from the pack and strutted


    over.


    She moved like she owned the ce-shoulders thrown back, hips swinging way too much. Her outfit belonged in a nightclub, not a sacred ceremony, with a neckline that plunged to her navel. Her ice-blue Hayes eyes locked onto me like I had a target painted on my forehead.


    A Hayes family crest dangled from her neck, practically screaming "inner circle. Vanessa Hayes-Jackson''s cousin and Shadow Creek''s queen bitch.


    "Well, damn," she smirked, deliberately shoulder-checking me as she circled. "We bet un whether you''d show your face. Thanks for costing me twenty bucks.


    She flicked my warrior emblem with a blood-red nail. This little badge is garbage now. Just Eke your standing in this pack."


    I bit the inside of my cheek, ignoring the heat crawling up my neck. "Still a Shadow Creek warrior, no matter what crap you talk about my father."


    Vanessa cackled, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. A warrior? Give me a break. A warrior without a pack is like a dewed kitten-pathetic andpletely useless."


    Snickers rippled through the crowd that was gathering like vultures. My face burned, but I nted my feet wider, chin up-exactly how Dad taught me. Never let these assholes see you sweat, kiddo.


    The circle tightened around us. I frantically searched for Sarah but spotted her trapped in conversation across the grounds,pletely clueless to the ambush happening


    People I''d known forever-wolves I''d trained with, fought with, shared beers with- now stared at me like I was something gross stuck to their shoe. Not one stepped up.


    The crowd split apart as a silver-haired woman approached, spine straight as a sword despite her age. Eleanor Hayes, Shadow Creek''s oldest elder and Jackson''s grandmother-the pack''s scariest bitch after the Alpha


    She stood before the blue mes, the light carving deep shadows into her face. "Hivers girl. You''ve got some nerve."


    Her staff hit the ground with a crack that jolted through my bones.


    "Know how many warriors died because of your father''s betrayal? Her voice carried across the suddenly dead-silent crowd, "What makes you think you s stand on sacred ground during our celebration?"


    Chapter


    bkyther In thedrent. The truth.


    Eleanor''s mouth impeline shed vasted something retten.. "Layaink What a world on ''x Haltor.


    turned to address the citncl. 21ork in hers wenler dumped by fate, deughter of a haltar, thrown way by her out


    Her words cut deeper than the knew. 1 Hruggled in keep my poker face as another figure folded her-Richard Hayes, Lickson''s dad, in a seit 19 wealth and power.


    "I once thought a Rivers Hayes union might benefit ont park," he announced, looking at me like I was sometiding stuck to his thor. "Dodged this bullet, didn''t wel


    He moved closet, voice dropping low. An adopted nobody. You never got what bloodlines mean, did you? few can you rock?"


    stand here without crawling under


    The mark under my scarf pulsed warm, a painful tembider I didn''t belong here anyinute. In this ce I once called stranger. Weird how this pack used to be my whole world, but nine my heart pulled toward ckwood Manor.


    p your execution ns?"


    1 looked Eleanor dead in the eye. "My father is innocent. The Alpha King knows it-why else stop your


    Richard''s face twisted with disgust. "Nobody believes a unitor''s kid."


    I suddenly felt like aplete


    I squared my shoulders. "I''m a Shadow Creek warrior. Nothing changes that. And whoever framed my father might be standing right here with us.


    My words hit home. Vanessa''s face contorted with rage, veins popping in her forehead. "You question Jackson? You mention that mark he wasted on you? That ship has fucking sailed!"


    Before I could dodge, she snatched a ceremonial goblet from nearby. "You don''t deserve to breathe his name!"


    Ice-cold liquid pped across my face and chest, soaking my uniform. The alcohol stung my eyes and the bitter herbs clogged my nose as shocked gasps turned to mockingughter.


    I stood frozen, sacred wine dripping from my chin, staining the blue leather I''d spent hours polishing.


    Vanessa stepped closer, another goblet in hand. "Still not getting the message? Maybe another drink will help wash away that pathetic look."


    Eleanor''s mouth curved into a smug smile. "Seems you''ve worn out your wee, Rivers. Leave before you further embarrass yourself at my grandsons


    oremony.


    Richard nodded. "Consider this a lesson in knowing your ce, Shadow Creek in''t your home anymore."


    I stood there, drenched and humiliated, as theirughter swelled around me.


    Just as I debated between fighting back or walking out, the air suddenly changed-growing thick and heavy. The blue mes thrashed wildly, nearly going out. An eerie silence dropped over everyone.


    My mark red hot against my neck.


    "I thought Shadow Creek knew how to treat


    sat guests better than this."


    The deep, dangerous voice sliced through the silence. I knew that voice


    anywhere-ke.


    "Someone want to exin, he said, voice deadly quiet but vibrating with power,


    "why an invited guest is getting treated like this?"