INE

d the worst of the bruises on my arms and chest, but there was no hiding the swelling on m

ined with portraits of the Mathews lineage. Alphas and Lunas, smiling with cold,

known he'd be

father's study, blocking my path. His arms were

growled, his voice low and dan

he pain in my side was a sharp, insi

uising grip. "A wolfless stray doesn't get

the air from my lungs in a pained gasp. The world til

is face a mask of contempt. H

ched on the edges of my vision. I bit down on my lip, tasting the cop

my hair, yanking my head back until my neck strained. "Beg," he hiss

eyes, and a raw, defiant energy surged throug

ll you have?"

spark that

by pure, animalistic fury. He brought his kn

ck echoed in th

my breath, my sight, my sanity. But through the blinding pain, I kept my eye

y door s

the scene-me crumpled against the wall, Brennen standing over me, brea

ice devoid of any emotion. "Don'

fted to me.

to haul myself upright. Each movement was a fresh wave of torture. I shuf

this room as his daughter. From now on, I

EB

ilver blade, sliced through the towering arched window, but it brought no w

the endless, moon-drenched forest tha

wheelchair's armrest was

he center of the room. His loyalty was as sol

final message from Oakhaven. The bride they are

eliberate rhythm on the armrest. Tap. Tap. Tap.

goods. A last-minute insu

ly rasp, a sound that had lost its warmth long ago.

only... the rumors about Adaline Mcle

I mused, the words tasting like ash. "Paired with a crippled Alpha." I could feel the

g Alpha. They thought I was too broken to care, too desperate to object. They were half right. The woman

e room seemed to drop

st my knuckles. My gaze pierced the darkness, aimed eastward, towar

t, frozen

repare herself for her new life." I paused, the reflection of my

y claimed, she wouldn't survive the first winter in my territory. And i