Serena’s POV
The silence in the room was suffocating, punctuated only by Penelope’s jagged breathing. I sat on the floor beside her holding her hand. Her skin was ice cold, a stark reminder of the terror my father had instilled in her. Looking at her I did not see a stranger. I saw myself three years ago trapped, silenced and waiting for a rescue that never came.
"I can not go through with it Serena," Penelope sobbed. Her head rested on her knees. "He says I am lucky. He says a marriage to that monster will secure the pack's future. He does not care if I die."
"You are not going to marry him," I said. My voice was firm. I felt a surge of protectiveness that was entirely new to me. "I was a pawn for too long letting men like Grey and Caden decide my worth. I will not let you become the n
