tian'

the guide's voice drone

e trembling she-wolf across from me with th

crying

dy spent my money in their heads, already imagined themselves as Luna of the Silver Mo

e was a

pensive cosmetics she'd probably applied specifically for this interview. "I would be honored to serve as y

t o

as if I'd str

ut

so fast she nearly tripped over her designer heels. She fl

ssed, tempor

my fingers against my temples wher

t somewhere between the blonde who'd reeked of desperation and

was beneath me. De

here I w

ut this selection should be for the si

ected. *This woul

y number seven. Maybe this cho

on

ened to the six women who'd worn my ring, shared my name, and then... vanished. Died. Dis

on Curse, th

their deaths hadn't been carefully arrange

ng-because of course she did. Mila Simons had never me

ge of the sofa, ignoring my growl of irrita

to participate in this medieval bride

smissive hand. "It's hardly medieval. We'r

e-wolves in front of me lik

bastian, you're Alpha of one of the most powerful packs in North America.

is time, you'll find your fated mate

said flatly. "Just bad

wiv

menti

but I could fee

Simons, former Alpha, adding his own weighted expe

isn't about romance. It's about duty. Responsibility. The pack elders are

ers should marry someone

asti

both parents out. Let them

alway

loud. "I'll see one more candi

ling, there ar

. Mo

ting something through the pack link. A moment

Alpha. Emilia Taylor

here like a sacrificial lamb by a desperate Alpha tr

felt sorr

oor o

re world til

Mate.

ead, howling and pacing like a caged anim

*I snarled

she

id sh

n't bel

ged "bride selections" designed to appease my parents and the pack

was almo

ayal, after watching love turn into a weapon used to destroy me-I'd written of

alked through that door, Ryder

enthusiasm, this time his reaction was d

Finally. After

ss, *I remind

t? She'

My fated mate. The one person in this world w

d absolute

Most women would have crumbled under my Alpha aura.

stared back

yes. And when I'd asked her why I shouldn't marry her, she

al killer to my face and declare

at was a

urged. *Tell her w

lutel

edge gave her power-leverage I couldn't afford to hand over. If she knew, she mi

di

ot, I wasn't go

others-temporary, transactional, and e

nd didn't c

ying to y

ception was a skill I'd