Maria
It was over, completely, shamefully, irreversibly over.
I shouldn't have opened my mouth, I shouldn't have stood there with hope trembling in my chest like a fool waiting to be granted mercy. I should've kept my head down, stayed invisible, and slipped quietly out of Moon Bridge while they were too wrapped up in Vanessa to notice I was gone.
I could have escaped, I screamed at myself in my head, sick with the realization. I could have melted into the dark forest, taken my chances as a rogue again, risked hunters, risked death, anything would have been better than this.
What was I even thinking?
Why did I believe even for a second they would listen?
I had forgotten my place, forgotten the chains that kept me tethered to four powerful Alphas who saw me as nothing but debt and inconvenience.
And now…Now I was trapped.
