ora

eeks

cane now, my leg still stiff, but I forced myself to

submissive, broken wife. I nodded when Ethan spoke. I s

shadows,

d in "disappearing" people from abusive marriages. He didn't kno

en me. The diamond earrings from our wedding? Sold. Th

ones. They meant nothi

It was all I was taking. A change of clothes, my sketc

t Ma

trict. It smelled like sulfur and rotten eggs, but it would hide my wolf s

somew

fr

doorframe. She was always th

id, keeping my voice flat. "The doctor

ack. "That looks h

st art s

room, reaching for

things," I said,

ed. "Ethan, help! S

cript she rehea

appeared, looking harassed. He was wearing a

ow?" he

t!" Ilene sobbed, clutching her a

said, tired. So tired. "

the bag. Suspicion clouded

N

. That is an

and wasn't full force; he was distracted. I managed t

I said.

th. "Ilene, stop it.

ut

late. Ilene, go to your room. Aurora, go to the

ned to

e turning a spectacular shade of gray. "My heart... i

ked at his watch, the

driver for her

. "Only you make m

ng the ticket to my freedom. If he stayed, if he looked closer, he might see the desp

Ethan said. "Go

e and walked her down the hall

t me.

t door close and the engine of

go to t

Masker. It tasted like ash. I gagged, feeling the ma

up my b

ack was pale, thin, with a scar running down her neck.

hand on my

would never have with him. "I'm glad you ne

ked out of the room, down the stairs wher

d. The rain would w

e. I limped toward the treeline, to

ve years, I was alone. A