Winter's Mate: Fated on Ice

O

eyes. I blinked hard, biting my lower lip as I tried to focus on anything in the room. The sound of the clock ticki

mehow missed for three whole months. Three months of believing someone like Joshua

io

naked trembling body, as my gaze fell on my dress

jo

be

whispered, my

room, his jacket hanging open over his bare chest, the chest I'd

Brad-watching with amusement. And worst of all, sta

in si

et out!"

le as she tapped her phone screen. "It's already

as my stomach dropped. Video? Which video? I quick

there it was-that casual cruelty that had probably always been there, hiding under the c

ed comments from my mother every time I reached for seconds, the constant comparisons to Sophia. "Why can't you

e me believe he

nths. Al

t now," Tyler said, phone reco

d my boots, and ran. I couldn't

Sophia's voic

erson who'd shared a womb

st Josh and

It was Christmas Eve in Highland Creek, Colorado, the location I'd picked because it had goo

ll pristine white and twinkling lights, lo

ice came. "Don't be so sens

s of my life. My vi

ked car. That's when the sobs came-huge, g

y crying," Mila said.

veryone at Silverwestern would have seen the video. My parents woul

's en

ugh the snow-low, rou

ng between me and Josh's group. Tall, over six feet, with dark ha

l are you?"

ving you ten seco

ward. "Man, this

Tyler's jaw with a sickening crack. Tyler went

swept over them. "Get your friend

yler struggled to his

stranger turned his back on them and cr

he most unusual eyes-amber colored,

he muttered to hims

aged

it, his skin was impossibly warm. He pulled me up easily and imme

ke sandalwood and pin

I managed, v

a snowstorm. You're not fine." His voice wa

see the video. About calling my parents, who would somehow make this my fault. A

I whis

in those amber eyes.

't kno

rd the lodge where Sophia stood watching. "And I'm a

d a p

d. "There's a bar i

ally anything other than trust a stranger who

eyes, I didn't see pity or d

heard my

rmed with relief. "Good

. Jude swung his leg over it

kidding,

lly." He patted the seat. "H

N

on tight. I

my arms around his waist, I felt the sol

ne roare

oing?" I shoute

," he called ba

spite Josh and Sophia and

my shattered life behind. Cold wind whipped agai

against his back a