a

s was not just viol

dry. I gripped the porcelain of the toilet bowl, my knuckles white, retching

are yo

in a pristine grey suit, every line sharp and unyielding.

a towel that suddenly felt too rough against

ed at me with a flicker of impatience, as if my vomiting were a scheduling confli

ing late" for thr

Alpha scent-a musk that felt engineered rather than earned-there was something else.

ut through the Mind-

at

u there? I fee

shut. Like a door slammed in my

embers whispered when I walked by, their

isper in the kitchen. "Walking around li

issed. "The Alph

What didn

opened, bringing a draft of

ed out. "Come

the living r

rved from ice and venom. She had the same dark hair, the same pale skin, the same curv

that clung to her cur

possessively on the small of her back. "A distant c

Her eyes were devoid of warm

voice was smooth, like velvet ov

I said, extending a han

just smiled, a tight, preda

und I hadn't heard in months. He poured her wine. He leaned in when she spoke, creating a private worl

ounding thin in the heavy air, "

raight at Ethan over the rim of her glass. "I take t

sick

yself to the restroom. On my way back, I passed a shad

his head. "Bringing the mistress into

cal knowing. "She's his intended Mate. Look at them. He only took the Omega for

tilted o

ped over my mouth to stifle a

hammering against my ribs. I needed to

y from the hamper. I buried my face in i

was. Th

was Ethan's scent-his *real* scent, not the colog

ropped the shirt. It hit t

awers, papers flying like frightened birds, until I found th

d – Experimental Applic

han's sharp script: "Target: Artificial

emical witch's brew

g around me. The "warmth" I felt? The

va

mind again. It was weak, fadin

ap

not... who he says.

screamed

slipping on the screen, and dialed

unded annoyed

tearing from my throat. "Please, Ethan.

woman's laughter in the bac

is happening tonight. Olivia needs my help. S

ne wen

omach. The moon hung outside the window,

chose business.

down at

e life inside me, tears dripping