IA'S

here, unable to breathe as Dam

etter mother to her

inside me with a soft, wounded whine. My heart didn't just hurt. It c

pered. "Damien, what do you mean by t

than an inconvenient noise. He placed a hand on Tiffa

toward the vil

t like being stabbed in the chest. My wolf's fur raised i

n, louder "Look at me.

e looked down at Ashley, smoothing her hair, the way he never d

hley leaned into her like she wa

eone dependable. Someone who is actually present. Someone w

told me to! You said the family valued ambition

wave. "You're always busy. Alway

. "I'm her mother, Damien.

y here?" he shot back, fina

inst my chest with the force of dominance, de

a soothing ha

Sophia didn't mean to cause trouble

e petted his arm like she tamed

red my question. What do you mean Ashley needs someone dependable once

amien's silence was

id down my spine.

breath as if bore

y Stonewall Vil

idened. "

full-time," he continued

. "Where is Ms. Dale

luntly. "Tiffany w

out asking me? She's my - she's our daughter!

said flatly. "This arrangemen

ing violently now. "This arrangement

o offer another sickeningly sweet li

oser, breath

any. I swear to the G

ng out as if to comfort me, "I'm not trying to rep

before thought

appe

. Tiffany's head snapped to the

the first time, her mask slipped. She wasn'

r, shielding Tiffany with her tiny arms

illed with tears. "You're a bad mom

. Bad mom. The word

by, listen-" I

way. It was hard enou

don't even love me! A

Tiffany s

ffany tightly, glaring at me with hurt and

was protective and something inside me shattered so d

ooked like the perfect little fam

fitting an

part of it.

ver a

ng my wolf. She lowered herself inside my

hing I sacrificed would ever be enough for this man or t

he sight. I couldn't breathe near them

o the pack hous

ement with shaking hands. The ink I had written ear

y. Child support. All o

crossed out the ent

l custody to Damien Stone. No visi

s something inside me howled in gr

ifeless, like someone

and on my stomach. My wolf whispered weakl

red to the life barely forming inside

ut on my coat. I grabbed my bag. I walked out o

o terminate the pregnancy. to sever every remaining tie