xia

th seeping through the thin soles of my shoes. Overhead, the sky hemorrhaged

san

rhythmic reminder of who

exi

, slick with false remorse. The

Link*. *I've been so busy with the security protoc

he darkness. He wasn't b

But I love your gentleness, Alexia. You balance me. A Wolf needs his Alpha female, bu

d a queen on his arm and a slave in his bed. He wante

e sharp as a blade. *You love that I make you feel powerful.

e on his end. A

ed, the question feeling l

ose her,* I replied. *You let her cr

s not

tering the moment like breaking glass. *Stop harassing hi

ft in his tone was immediate. He went from repentant lover t

e infirmary building where I was lurking. He held a heavy velvet pouch

"She said... she said it's your severance pay. Since you can't p

was heavy. Gold c

s looping, childish scrawl: *For the cri

ded my veins. It wasn't the

leave.

nfire. The music died down as people noticed me-the disheveled, bloodied Omega

acob's arm with theatrical fe

m. I looked up at them. They looked

the vel

id, my voice cutting through the silence. "A

ew th

. The fabric burst open. Gold coins spilled out, clinking and

od hand. "They aren't worth a single note of the m

e's lying! Jacob, she's ly

n read sheet m

reathing becoming ragged. "My hear

e. A bad one. But i

ont of Kassandra, shielding her from me-from the br

he Alpha Command vibrating in

man I had worshipped since I was a child. T

ng over me without taking hold because my heart was alre