ry'

ncis was on the sofa, his legs bouncing like crazy. The moment

es, and I've got my own mate too.

ed at me, completely

fall apart. He'd been running all over the place these past few days, even trying t

o Richard. Maybe he'd never planned to say yes either. Fran

a few deep breaths before s

k anyway. He shoved the door open and started pleading with Richard. "Alpha Richard, I

go. The damage was brutal. If Francis couldn't get help from another

him put on this pitiful act, thou

d, "I don't care about that. Miss Lake doesn't want to be my mate, and I've already found my mate. If

favor-he was aiming for something way more, to basically tie

g anymore. I already shut th

e ground out from under him. He followed Byron outside and talked for a bi

Richard, playing the role of a decen

't feel happy at all. I felt agitated. What happened last night was still playin

we left the Bloodmoon Pack. He looked tense and annoyed, which honestly worked in my favor-I didn't have to lis

d headed straight up to my room, spending

voice was scratchy but calm, almost like he was trying too hard to act normal.

nd, but then it clicked-he probably thought Richard had been in a decent mood today because of me. Like, maybe getting shot

r, and his invite didn't instantly irritate me. I hesitated

time. Time to revisit the place my mom and I once called home-the house that Franc

flashy, but just enough. More importantly, it covered up the marks

. No one figured out I was Francis's daughter. Not until I got

f regretful. "You look beautiful, Perry. Co

xpression-my face was twisted in disgust. Irene Morgan... no, Irene

e didn't even try to hide her relationship with Francis. My mom? She didn't matter to Irene

icking around either. So Mom had to pack us both up and leave. I was ten when she died. Aft

ncis since. Not until

. At the doorway, a girl with soft brown hair was standing there, giv

ow she was their pride and joy. Guess their relationship was so passionate they

. Sure, I only had to deal with Sarah, but that didn't make her some i

his fake-smiley look, her eyes scan

Just gave a short nod, didn't

yone in the Ashen Pack-especially not F

aintest eye roll, clearly not thril

vibes. He tugged me into the living

few wolves tidy up a room for you. From now on, you'll live here with us," Franc

nd tossed a line at Sarah. "Sweethe

led away by Irene callin

. "Living with us? Please. You've been out in the sticks

n eye roll of my own. "You guys enjoy your fancy l

xpression curdled. "Crown Regent? What, did some money fairy pay for that? Do you even kno

id coolly, not even blinking. "I've never use

hey stood for. I didn't want a single

d up, chin tilted arrogantly. "Good. Hopefully you

les like she hadn't just heard her daughter's insults. "Looks lik

le such errands. Irene didn't need to come herself. But

, clearly feeling victorious

st happened. If I dared say anything, she'd probably guilt-trip me,

I sped up and dropped into the seat right next to Francis. No doubt that was Sa

her a warning look. Sarah bit her tongue and, fuming, picked another seat. I cas

, but with both Irene and Francis watchi

ly hanging on. "Perry, did you upset Alpha Richard? Is that why the two of

at my food. "It wasn't just h

cally losing her cool. "That's hilarious. What makes you th

let out a cold chuckle. "If you want

ever. She turned to Irene, excited. "Mom, she's actually right. The

Perry because she's just some backwoods girl who doesn't have the aura

or me not to roll my eyes so hard they got stuck. I wa

. "Enough! Don't you ha

meaning to, instantly shutting Irene and Sa

and stormed off toward his study

d over at Irene and said with a sneer, "Whatever, Mom. As if I'd want som

ne stronger than Richard Scott. The way she glared at me, full of scorn, it was li

od up and left without a second thought. I didn't feel a shred of atta

d put my mother through, and I was done preten