tain she'd misheard him.

ack away from her in disgust. "You're the daught

't how it was supposed to go.

e said her name like it left a bad ta

tween them. Around them, other conversations continued, but Aria felt

what, e

afe ran a hand through his golden hair, messing up the pe

, but Aria heard w

derstand."

pect you to

a whimpered in her mind.

lpha instincts flaring. "No, fi

princ

call me

. I'm not interested in whatever

h that nearby dancers started g

ate to help her rule." Rafe's tone was casual, di

breath. "Okay, that's

king her eyes off Rafe. Her hands clenched

things. I'm just not inte

ge, but she fought to remain composed and re

eadly quiet. "Then let m

-" Lexi grab

e the flecks of silver in his blue eyes, close enough to smell that i

a's Alpha presence filled the space

shed dangerousl

te who doesn't need you to take care of her, s

w what you're

m about it. "Big strong Alpha can't handle the id

a could feel her parents' attention from across the

backwater you came from, just to embarrass me an

putting a hand over

p to meet hers. For a moment, Aria thought he might

iocre daddy's girl, so no, that's not why

are. Cold, controlling, and far more concerne

tra whispered desperate

ng at that point. "At

ngerously low, almost too low for her to hea

I do', and I

een them like a live wire. Aria could feel it pulling at her, demand

ok a deliberate

nally. "I actually thought you might be different. That mayb

a second, but it was gone so qui

t, Blackwood. At least we c

en, astonished that an outsider would dare speak to

nsform, ready to de

aightened his shoulders and l

n pack, hereby reject you, Aria Blackwood, futu

round them, and Aria felt the mate bond shake in protest, figh

e was raised to be strong and to never show weak

e mate bond, this rude good for good-for-nothing b

of the Silver Crest pack, accep

fully torn away. Kestra howled in agony, the sound echoing

she didn't show any of the devastation tha

e and said, "Mark my words. If you ever see me ag

ou or your people again after tonight." Then o