ila

rhythm against the marble floor that echoed the hammering of my h

sharp left toward

the lib

a heavy oak door, and the roar

tate, a place shadowed by ancient ivy and hidden from the main driveway. The temperature plummeted,

ed over the thunder, wrapp

glowing with a predatory luminescence. He stepped closer, his la

," he growled, his voice vibrating in my chest.

he lie tasted like ash. "I was

. "Your wolf didn't think it was a mistake. She

pacing excitedly, ignoring the c

l over my shoulders, pulling the lapels together. The scent of him-sandalwood, rain, and pure, unadulterated Alpha

r me," I whispered,

closer. "The coward who can't even control his own secrets? Do

He knew everything, and he w

a black beast of a vehicle idling in the shadows-a custo

muted. Carter slid into the driver's seat, the sudden confinement making the air th

lurted out, my hands trembling

ached into his pocket and p

My earring. The one I had los

ything from you,

from my finger. It wasn't a question, but a statement. The metal was cold as it came free, and in that moment, I felt

a sound of pure relie

now. My finger felt str

lipping it into his breast pocket. Then, he leaned across the center console. His face was

g a hard truth I had been

leave him,

nt wish for freedom. My inner self, so lon

voice returning to nor

ks clic

ut the phantom heat of his words burned deeper than the cold. I stood on the gravel, clutchi

backward glance, the Alpha King drove into the