EB

ad bowed. The silence stretched

d anger. "Their disrespect is an insult to the Caldwell name

nlight caught the polished silver of my mask, erasi

y the weak are insulted by

or a wolfless stray. The only difference to me is

er name, her status-it was all meaningless. This marriage was a political neces

ce betraying a hint of resignation. He ro

to the cold, silent trees. A qui

unfamiliar. Curiosity, perhaps. What kind of woman would be sent as a substitute bride? What

it came. It didn't matter. She wa

INE

of my place in this family. My stepmother, Luna Evelyn Mathews, circled me, her eyes sh

curled in disgust. "So unseemly. Brennen has no sense of

his head slightly, then his shoulders relaxed.

he announced. Relief washe

me, her expression shifting from annoyance to cold command. "Well, Adali

across the polished surface of the d

them. On my father's relief. On Evelyn's satisfaction

ty of a business transacti

My voice was barely a whisper, strained by the pain

yebrows shot toward her hairline. It was a word they had

ent fear churned: the fear of a life unlived, of dying a victim withou

own on me with the full weight of his Alpha authority. "What did you

ng to force me to my knees. Cold sweat trickled down my back.

time. "I said no. I will not sign anything, and I will not

p, ugly sound. "You? A wolfless disgrace?

grounding me. "I have the right because I am the one they want now. I am th

in my life, I sho

king at me now, not as a nuisance or a shad

that the broken, obedient

impending tirade. His voice was low, d

y through my side. This was my only chance. My one and only move