The Shattered Dawn — Harvey Price novel Chapter 12

12 That alone deserves death.

I was going to die. I knew this because of the deadly intent diating from Lucien, because of those cold emotionless eyes as he strangled me.

For the grave act I had committed, death was the only outcome.

I knew all of this before choosing to participate in the ritual that if I were caught, the ruthless Alphas would end my life for deceiving them. But I didn’t have a choice.

I was desperate.

Still, I didn’t regret what I had done.

Because if it meant saving my mother, I’d do it all over again. I’d sell my body to the Alphas for those two bars of gold.

If it meant…

“Nnngh-“I groaned, my eyes fluttering shut, legs kicking weakly against the bed as I tried to pry his strong grip from my neck. But of course, I couldn’t.

He was strong. He was intent on killing me.

The pressure was suffocating-I couldn’t breathe. My vision blurred as I fought for air, only able to let out a weak whimper in my struggle to stay alive.

“Wolfless?” Silas asked, surprise lacing his voice. He turned to me, his expression unreadable.

“Wait… she’s wolfless?”

My gaze flickered to Claude, finding him staring at me in shock before he ran a hand through his blond hair, head tilting slightly.

“But that scent… it was addicting. I thought she would be our mate,” he said with a frown, eyes narrowing. Didn’t you know wolfless women are not allowed to participate in the ritual?”

My lips parted, I wanted to speak, explain myself, beg for forgiveness… anything.

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But all I could manage was a harsh, choking gasp as tears began to slide down my cheeks, blurring my vision.

“Tell me why you are here” Lucien hissed, and I groaned, my back arching as his grip on my neck tightened.

When I turned my gaze back to him, I froze.

His eyes were glowing brighter now, but it was the blank, terrifying expression on his face that made my body

tremble.

And in that moment, all I felt was fear.

For the first time in my life, as I stared into Lucien’s cold, empty eyes…

I was truly afraid of someone.

“I’ve never seen someone so ruthless before. He doesn’t hesitate. He doesn’t even blink when he kills.”

Kael’s words echoed in my head as black dots began to clou my vision, and my heartbeat slowed.

“I asked you a question, omega.” Lucien’s cold voice cut though the haze, snapping me back to the present.

My mouth opened and closed, struggling to form words as stared up at him, his jaw clenched, eyes narrowing in

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121That one deservise darthy

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raw rage.

“Why would a wolfless omega be here, participating in this ritual?” he growled. “You can’t be our mate… so why are you here? Why step into something that was never meat for you?”

My breath hitched as he slowly closed the distance between is, until we were just inches apart. Though his voice remained calm, every word carried the weight of barely restrained fury.

“Do you think this ritual is some kind of game? Just a chance to spread your legs for us for one night?”

A game?

No- no, it wasn’t.

This ritual was life or death for the Alpha triplets. It meant everything to them. They had to find their mate to survive, and every day was ticking by. That was why they offered gold to any she-wolf willing to spend the night with them. But me being here, I had wasted their time, and time was valuable to them.

But I… I had no choice either.

I shook my head slowly, struggling to find my voice and Lucien’s grip loosened just enough for me to speak, the words tumbling out on a ragged breath.

“F-forgive me,” I gasped out, my hands too weak to pry his from my neck. I couldn’t fight anymore.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I met his gaze, my voice breaking.

“F-forgive me, Alphas… I was desperate. I-I didn’t know what else to do. I needed the reward from the ritual, the two gold bars. I needed it so…”

A choked whimper escaped me as more tears fell, my body rembling under the weight of it all.

But Lucien’s expression didn’t change. He looked down at me, utterly unmoved, unimpressed by my words.

I could feel Silas and Claude’s eyes on me, their presence sharp and suffocating. My hands clenched into weak fists, because deep down… I knew.

I wasn’t going to survive this.

No matter what I said, no matter how true my reasons were… it wasn’t enough. Not for them.

“What reason is worth risking your life for two gold bars?” Claude’s voice suddenly cut through the silence.

I couldn’t see him, but I knew he was closer now.

My lips trembled as I stared at Lucien, fighting the urge to dry, to break down but this was my decision, and these were the consequences. So I forced the words out, even as his grip sent sharp pain down my spine.

“M-My mother…” I whispered, voice cracking. “She’s sick She needs surgery, she needs the money, so I-”

“Why are you even asking her that?” Lucien cut in coldly, his voice like ice. He turned his head slowly toward Claude, who stood beside Silas, both of them wearing grim expressions as the air thickened with tension.

“Does it matter why she did it?” he went on. “She entered the ritual knowing she was wolfless. She broke the rules. That alone is unforgivable.”

His eyes snapped back to mine and I cried out as his grip tightened again, this time with killing intent, like he meant to snap my neck.

“That alone deserves death.”

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121Thot ofone deserves death

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As I stared into Lucien’s eyes, it wasn’t just his grip that suffocated me but the air of death and in that moment, I came to a quiet, terrifying conclusion:

Those eyes would be the last thing I’d ever see.

And strangely… I wasn’t afraid.

Instead, as Lucien strangled me, I reached for his hand, wrapping my fingers shakily around his. My mouth opened and closed, no sound escaping, only air.

But from the way Lucien narrowed his eyes at me, I knew he heard me.

“The gold… please give them to my mother.”

As soon as I breathed out the words, my eyes fluttered shut and I surrendered to fate.

I felt Lucien’s hand hesitate, just for the briefest moment.

But then, just as quickly… he tightened his grip, ready to end me.

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