A

t hung in the air and soaked into every surfa

nto morning. The shower where I carried her before dawn because we had

r where I bent her over and drov

ch. I woke the moment she shifted her weigh

she moved carefully, trying not to mak

thing behind. She had not taken the clothes I offered. Not the dres

cross the bed. I stared at it, waiting f

st control like that before. Not once. I had pushed too far. I could have hurt her. She had b

d my thoughts into o

ss from me in one of the hotel's conference rooms. They smelled

usual. True bon

ation in the Grand Moon Hall," I said, keeping my voice

owing low. "It was an honor that you accepted the

k with many of them last night. Instead, I will be here for another

nce to meet the new king," he sai

all squeak. She murmured an apology. Alaric immediately g

the woman you r

f get pulled into a night like that had thrown everything off. I should have bee

think about her again. And yet,

ked myself empty more than once, trying to get her out of my head. I had run hard t

ed to

. She's the daughter of Victor Blackwoo

intended befor

joining our packs through marriage. Everyone knew I planned to

tha

th anyone. That's not

u say infidelity, you mean to

w

is grin told me he expected

said slowly. "And you c

"I humiliated her because she humiliated me. Appa

c's hand closed hard around

Aria's cousin. Are you pa

ll Basin now," Alaric

l with nothing. No allia

her I was king. I had only named my old clan. If sh

nted to risk that. I had not clawed my way to the

obsession. I forced it to se

lose my he

night. Caring now meant the night

s no point pretending otherwise. Being one mor

d

o could not respect loyalty.

early did