Chapter 3

She wiped the blood from her mouth. Her voice came out very calm, calmer than it had been in years. "Damon. I want to sever the Bond." # Chapter 3 Damon's face went ugly. "Elara. Don't say things you don't mean." Her voice was hoarse. "I'm not. I just don't want to close my eyes every night and hear my pups screaming in pain." He clenched his fist. "You've lost your mind." "Guards. Take the Luna to the Dungeons. She needs to cool down." She had severe claustrophobia. He said it on purpose. He was waiting for her to soften, to beg. He wanted her to swallow the words "sever the bond" back down. But Elara said nothing. He watched the guards pull her away, something like shock crossing his face. He opened his mouth to call her back, and Serena grabbed his arm. "Damon—my leg, it hurts—" He forgot everything else. He turned and gathered the soft, boneless woman against him. * The Dungeons were cold and dark. Rats rustled in the corners. They threw her in hard. Her hand scraped raw against the stone. Blood welled up. "The Alpha says—whenever the Luna is ready to apologize to Miss Voss, she can come out." Elara didn't answer. She folded herself into a ball in the corner. The dark alone was enough to make her heart seize. Worse, the air was thinning. Her face flushed red. She slumped against the floor. She saw Nora again. And a row of bleeding infants, crawling toward her. "Mommy. It hurts. We hurt." She wrapped her arms around her head and screamed. From far away, a man's voice roared, "Who the hell locked that door? The Dungeons don't have enough air!" Such a familiar voice. Whose was it? When she came back to herself, she was looking at a face that was shaped a little like her own. The man was patting her back, his forehead damp with sweat, his eyes full of relief. Her brother. Julian Ashford. She stared, numb. She had the claustrophobia because of him. When she was seven, she had tried to pull him out of an abandoned well. She had slipped and fallen in herself. He had held her then too, the same way. "Don't be afraid. Big brother is here. Big brother will protect you." The memory softened something in her face. Before she could speak, Julian said coldly, "You bullied Serena again?" "I told you Serena is going to be your Alpha's sister soon. I told you she isn't after Damon. Why won't you listen? Or are you just that jealous?" "We spoiled you too much. Apologize to her. Sign the accident release for the car crash. Let this end." Whatever had softened in her went cold again. She laughed, a bitter thing. "Your sister-in-law? Raising Damon's pup while you play dutiful uncle. How generous of you, brother." "Don't talk nonsense. Serena was attacked by Rogues. There's no way the pup is Damon's." She didn't want to argue. "Leave. I won't apologize. I won't sign anything." His face pinched. "What are you saying? I'm your brother. You want to hold me responsible?" "You killed my pup. You should pay for it." Her voice stayed flat. "Unless—you tell me where Nora is buried." "If that's all it takes. She's buried at—" "Julian." The door opened. Damon stood in it, his face like stone. He looked down at her. "Why are you asking about Nora again? Still not satisfied? Still trying to prove Serena and I killed her?" "The last lesson wasn't enough?" # Chapter 4 Her heart lurched. "I only want to see my daughter again." Even if it was just her body. Damon laughed, raw. "I think you need to spend some more time at the Asylum." The word cracked the last calm in her. She started shaking, clutching the blanket, shaking her head. "No. I won't go—" Julian leaned in, uneasy. He reached for her. She screamed and tried to bolt. "I won't go—" Damon caught her easily. Julian said, "Damon. Let it go. She only asked in passing." "She's still trying to hurt Serena and Theo. Serena just told me Theo broke out in hives after playing with Nora's old toys. He had to go to the Pack Infirmary." "Who else could have tampered with Nora's things? Only her." Julian's face changed. "Theo is at the Infirmary?" "Elara. How did you become this cruel? You disappoint me." He stopped holding Damon back. He let him drag her out. Her head was full of the Asylum—the restraints, the wires. Her body wouldn't stop trembling. She didn't even notice they weren't taking her to the Asylum. Only to a small room at the back of the manor. To the Shock Chair. Damon looked at her dazed, fragile face, and then he pressed the button. "Ahhh—" Her scream split the air. The current ripped through her. Her muscles locked and convulsed. Pain bolted up her spine into her skull. His voice was hard. "Remember.