Chapter 1

Damon Sterling's Pack collapsed. His parents died in the fall and left him buried in Pack debt.

I was supposed to follow my Mentor overseas for a Pack apprenticeship. Instead I went to the Wolf's Den and drank myself sick every night.

Three years. I scraped together a million dollars, and I dragged my battered body over to hand it to the collector.

That was when I saw Damon sitting in the main seat with Serena Voss on his lap.

The collector stood to the side, bowing low.

"Alpha Sterling, the rough client I sent last night already pinned a fine on Anya and docked her pay."

"But she works like a demon. She drinks liquor like water, and even drunk she won't let anyone touch her. Half the pack throws tips at her. She scraped the money together anyway."

Damon bent his head and kissed Serena's lips. He laughed, cold.

"Then just find me another collector, won't you?"

"And those private pictures we took of her? Sell them cheap. Who at a Wolf's Den is clean? She wants out. I'm going to make sure she can't get out."

Damon tipped up Serena's chin.

"I saw a ring I like. It's exactly a million."

Serena covered her face, playing shy.

"Who said I was going to take your Mark?"

...

I stood outside the door, white-faced, my lips parted but no sound coming out.

Serena's sugary voice drifted out.

"Damon, it was my fault too. I was the one who had to have that overseas apprenticeship."

"Otherwise you wouldn't have had to fake the Pack collapse to make her give up her spot. Who knew she'd cling on like this."

Damon and I met in college. When he confessed, he prepared nineteen birthday gifts for me.

We were the model couple in everyone's eyes. It didn't last. His Pack went down overnight.

His parents died and left him with a mountain of Pack debt.

When the collectors cornered him at the door and beat him bloody, I was the one on my knees signing the three-year Blood Debt Pact.

To pay off his debt, I walked away from the apprenticeship my Mentor had offered me overseas.

I worked the Wolf's Den night and day.

When clients forced drinks on me, I saw the thick stack of bills pressed under the glass, and I drank without hesitating.

When Damon held me crying, saying he was sorry, I was the one turning to comfort him.

"I'm fine."

I looked down at the plain gold band on my finger and pulled a bitter smile. So all of it was a lie.

I held back the pain in my chest and called my Mentor, the one who had always cared for me.

"Mentor, can I still come back and learn from you?"

He was overjoyed.

"Of course! You're the most talented apprentice I've ever had! I've always hated seeing you waste yourself in that place!"

"Ezra and the others were just talking about you yesterday. Everyone misses you!"

"But this round we're heading to the Eastern Realm. There's a huge Pack project out there. If you come, you won't be back for a long time."

My stomach seized up. I pressed a hand against it. My eyes stung.

"Mentor, my mind's made up."

From the other end I heard Ezra and the others.

"Little Anya! Is someone bullying you at home?"

"Our Anya's a ray of sunshine. Who wouldn't love her?"

...

My nose burned. Being loved really did feel good.

My phone buzzed. A text from Damon.

【Anya, when are you getting here? The collector's getting impatient.】

I pulled myself together and pushed open the door.

Damon and the collector had switched places. The collector sat in the main seat now, one leg crossed over the other, smoking, looking like he owned the Pack.

Damon stood to the side, fear all over his face.

How had I never noticed what a good actor he was?

"Hey. Dressed up pretty today. Who are you trying to seduce?"

The collector licked his lips and dragged his eyes up and down my body, then down to my chest. He rubbed his hands together.

"If you let me have some fun, I can knock off part of the interest."

Damon faked his anger. He pulled me behind him.

"What are you doing? We have the money! Don't — don't get any ideas —"

I clenched my teeth. The Blood Debt Pact had my name on it. Only I could close it.

I handed over the bank card. I just wanted this over.

Then the collector pulled out a new IOU.

"Anya, your man doesn't owe money to just me."

I ignored him and held out my hand.

"I'm done at the Wolf's Den. Give me back my ID."

The collector's face went dark. His hand tightened around his phone.

"What do you think this place is? You come when you want, leave when you want?"

He pulled out his phone, unlocked it, and shoved the screen in my face.

"Take a look at these. You think you're walking out of here?"

I curled my hand into a fist and looked. On the screen I was naked, surrounded by strange men.

"You —"

I went cold all over. My heart almost stopped. My mouth opened but nothing came out.

The collector's laugh filled the room. He raised a finger at me.

"Three years at the Wolf's Den, and you still think you're worth something?"