Vera’s POV
I sat on the edge of my bed, feeling numb. My eyes were sore from crying, but the tears wouldn’t stop. My chest rose and fell unevenly with every breath. I wanted to forget, to erase the memory of last night—but no matter how hard I tried, it stayed with me like a shadow.
My thoughts raced in circles, tearing through my mind like a storm. How could Alpha Gideon treat me that way? I had trusted him. Believed that maybe—just maybe—he was different. That he cared. But I was wrong.
To him, was I just something he bought? A prize to use and discard?
I dragged myself to the bathroom. My feet felt heavy, each step slow and painful. I turned on the tap and let the water run before splashing it over my face. I stared at my reflection. The girl in the mirror looked unfamiliar. Her eye
