THE SUBSTITUTE BRIDE TO THE BROKEN PRINCE

urned cold against

cause this was her place now. Kneeling, waiting and

a Ha

is voice. Even now, after everythi

them both. His dark hair caught the light from the crystal chandeliers. Behind him, her stepsis

e sh

up," Da

stretched out behind her, packed with wolves from every corner of the ki

celebrati

old and formal. Nothing like the warmth he'd shown her three months ago when the

t it. Every second of every day, pul

a command," he said

hen other people were watching. When it was just the two of them at home

reject you, Lyra

ond s

broke apart. Her wolf howled. She gasped, pressing her hand to her

then cold, then hot again. Her vision

lled out, her voice dripping with fake c

lau

never come back. But her father sat in the third row with his ne

us more than y

building in her throat. "

her. Elara laced her fingers through his. They walked off the platform

h silver streaks in her black hair, steppe

fill the Northern Alliance. You will present yourself as bride to Prin

wd went

ile vanish

e matchmaker said calmly. "Your family pledged this b

m not marrying some broken prince in a

ern Alpha King. Once a powerful warrior and unmatched in combat. Then came the accident

said he was

hmaker repeated. "If you refuse, your en

y there's another way. Elara i

matchmaker cut in. "The North requ

nd. "You can't do this. She's too preciou

a, who'd pushed her down the stairs when s

other daughter,"

t a sudd

k and unreadable. "Lyra Hale. You share the same father and the sa

ly. "She's not suitable and she's

are. She studied Lyra like she was

es

read an

es

riageable age a

ened, after feeling her mate bond shatter into noth

Lyra's father. "Choose. One daughter goes north, or the ent

wife whispered something in his ear.

knew what th

go," her

. No hesitatio

avel to the Northern Territory in three days. You will ma

ering from the rejection, but underneath that

derst

ftened slightly. "Prepare yourself, gi

Lyra with a wa

e reached the outer courtyard, the sun had set. She wrapped her

Lyra caught her arm. "What do

terrified. "Miss

eas

ly human anymore. Crippled from the waist down, covered in sc

oat tighte

le think he'd be better off dead." She pul

eared into

dark, alone, with those

uel and bett

she was being