I made my way back to the entrance of the castle, flipping through the royal book again, trying to figure out how to erect a new barrier spell—this time one that only allowed werewolves to pass through. But this version looked a lot more complex.
“I know you didn’t really mean what you said to your mom,” Elias said gently.
“Right now, I absolutely meant it,” I replied firmly. “She had every chance to come back for me. Dad wasn’t always around when I was little—he’d leave for days. She had so many opportunities. But instead, she chose to save herself. Meanwhile, I spent my entire childhood locked in an attic, treated like garbage. Whipped with silver chains. Poisoned so I couldn’t defend myself. Told over and over that I was worthless, that I’d be a slave forever because my mate would rej
