into a corner of the ballroom in her parents' home Stone Moon pack, staring at

't certain that one of her family would

to her room and h

she had always prided herself on her hone

weeks ago in London was more than just small privatizati

ould feel that lie pressing against he

grandmother's step from a crowd of peo

e look at Lady Helena's wolf's face and Samantha knew h

close enough to be heard above the com

g to be marched to the gallows. We don't want you

er voice nearly drowned by the bright notes of a cotillion

all believe thi

iated like a brand against Samantha's cool skin. "May I suggest the

idn't realize it wo

eception doe

ou have little choice but

d Mother and Father would be if the

llow them to discover the truth. I

her one

lided through the steps of a cotillion

t love. The way she gazed up at her tall, fair-haired husb

ed down at his

th that love as a standard for what she expected from her future marriage was

d be to face everyone and maintain this

ing ev

r grip on her gra

the skin beneath Sa

, look

r, the lines that crinkled at the comers of her amber eyes could not steal Helena's beauty, even though she was past sixty. Just how far past she ha

lay your role well

ths she would attain the advanced age of twenty-one, fa

llowed her to remain on t

e the Alpha female once she found her mate. Yet, no one in her fa

d parents had forced her to endur

of boring part

as from different packs of fortune

ound no mate with whom she wishe

that Samantha have the opportunity to marry before any of he

every bit as st

irl?" Helena's golden eyes were filled with an uneasy

rse of action. And of course, you will

ts trusted me to launch you

iscovered, the scandal would not only ruin Samantha and her grandmother but her entire family. No, she was far too

to jeopardize my p

t fail

d, frowning at the red marks her fingers had left on Sa

r. The only one of your sisters who

ok

he tingling flesh

d my temperament is re

er fan, the gilt-trimmed edge glittering in the ball light. "Still, all in all, I'm quite satisfied with how you've

rkably of myse

her penchant for rich colours and medi

on. "Thank yo

man

glided toward her, her pale hair gl

e chand

rful party?" Anna

t until I fi

een by next season, my dear I believe

hed her phone to her chest. "

flawless cheek. "My dear, they will t

ink stain across Anna's c

ena snapped her purse closed. "Now

I really must

he crowd surrounding the dance floor, making her way

ce of the room into the swirling mass

d like a queen across the crowded room

ul confidence. Confidence was one t

as necessary, Samantha as

a is Screaming she averts h

f the ballroom. He stood for a moment on the top stair, framed by the white

tingling sensation rippling through he

could sense an aura of danger about this man. She

ommanding figure, she had little doubt he had onl

den fingers into his black