Jennifer’s Pov
As Alpha Christian walked away, I heard them.
The other girls, the ones who had stood beside me at the sacred stone, were whispering low. Not to me. But close enough that I heard every word.
"Poor girl," one of them whispered.
"Seven before her. Now her too."
They looked at me with pity, the kind of look people give you at a funeral. Nobody said it to my face. Nobody had to.
Two maidens came up on either side of me and each took one of my hands.
"We will escort you to your room, my lady," one of them said.
I turned to follow them, but the High Priestess's voice stopped me cold.
"Wait."
I turned back. Her face was blank, like she was reading off a list.
"Brace yourself. You should know what is coming next," she said. "The Alpha has granted you the privilege of seeing your people. It may be your last time."
Then she turned and walked away.
I stood there for a second, just blinking.
That was it. That was how they told someone they were going to die. No sorry. No maybe you'll survive this. Straight to the face like it was nothing.
I turned to one of the maids. "So I guess I'm going to Solara now."
"Yes," she said.
They led me outside.
I stepped out and stopped, my breath catching in my chest. The castle was massive, big enough to swallow a hundred people whole and still have room to spare. I couldn't even see past the gates from where I stood. They rose up dark and heavy, like they were built to devour anyone who tried to walk through them.
I didn't even have time to take it all in before a man walked up to me.
"Jennifer. I am Kane, Beta and second in command to Alpha Christian. I will be escorting you to see your people." He gave a short nod. "Lead the way."
I nodded back. I didn't know what else to say.
I climbed into the carriage. Kane sat across from me and said nothing. I said nothing back. I just gave the person riding us directions to my father's house and watched the streets pass by outside the window.
When we reached the house, I stepped down. Kane said he would wait.
I knocked on the door. Once. Twice. Three times. I went around to the back too, memories flooding in with every step, and I had to fight the sting building behind my eyes. I told myself to be strong. I told myself not to cry.
Nobody was home.
I knew what that meant. I knew I should turn around, go back to the carriage, and let myself have whatever peace was left before I died. But I didn't.
Instead I walked back to Kane. "He might not be here. Can we check somewhere else?"
"Okay," he said, and told the driver where to go.
When we got there, people were already staring at me. Word had spread fast. I could see it on their faces, that pity, that look like they were already mourning me. Oh, she's going to die.
I walked to the front door. Brian's house.
I knocked.
The door opened, and it was Sophia.
Sophia looked at me for a long moment. "I should have known it was your plan all along," I said.
"Hello to you too, sister." She turned and walked back inside, leaving the door open.
I knew that was my cue to follow.
Inside, Brian sat at the table, Sophia's chair still warm beside him, food half eaten in front of them like I had walked in on something ordinary. Like nothing had happened.
"You betrayed me, Brian," I said.
He didn't even look up right away. "Is this what you came here for? To disrupt the peace of this house?"
"Is that what you have to say to me?" My voice cracked. "After everything we've been through, that's it? You left me for the wolves and that's all you have to say to me?"
He didn't answer. Sophia kept eating like I wasn't even in the room.
Then the door to one of the back rooms opened, and my father walked out.
"Well, well, well." I laughed, but there was nothing funny about it. "You're even here. I should have known. I know you hate me, Father. I've always known that. But this. This is the height of it. None of you even thought about how I'd feel. Like I meant nothing to any of you."
I looked at him. I looked at Sophia. I looked at Brian.
My father sat down slowly in a single chair like he had all the time in the world. "You should be grateful to us."
"Grateful?" I scoffed. "Why? Why should I be grateful? Why do you hate me so much, Father? What have I ever done to you?"
Sophia stood up so fast her chair scraped the floor. "Oh, please. Stop with the drama. Look at yourself. We did you a favor. You're going to be the bride of the Alpha. Who wouldn't want that?"
"You sent me to my death."
"We gave you redemption from your pathetic life." Her voice was sharp now, cutting. "You've done nothing for this family. Nothing. Now you finally get to be useful for once. So please, spare me the tears."
"We are sisters," I said, my voice shaking. "We are the same blood. The same flesh. And you did this to me." I turned to my father. "What about me? What about what's best for me?"
"You ungrateful child." His voice rose, sharp and furious. "You should be happy. You don't get to question us."
"I am your daughter." My voice broke on the words. "I am your daughter, and you've done nothing but hate me for twenty one years. What did I ever do to deserve that?"
He stood up so fast the chair nearly tipped, and then his hand cracked across my face.
"How dare you raise your voice at me," he said. "Leave this house. Now."
I pressed a hand to my cheek, the sting spreading hot across my skin. I turned to Brian, waiting for him to say something. Anything.
"I think you should listen to your father," he said instead. "And leave."
Sophia opened her mouth like she was about to say something, then closed it again.
I turned and walked out. I didn't look back.
I climbed into the carriage and sat down. My throat was tight and my eyes burned, but I pressed my lips together and held it in. I would not cry here. Not in front of Kane. Not in front of anyone.
"Are we ready to go?" Kane asked.
I looked straight ahead.
"Yes.”