y

thmically on the paved path. I didn'

Clayto

but did

m scrambling to catch up. "Faking your death? That

reason? Against the Silver Lake Pack? I

e, panting. "You were born a

calmly. "Five years ago. In the sn

Of course h

I used to mistake for wisdom. Classic gaslighting. "You were weak, Ivy. You would

sley," I corrected him. "Because

esperate to regain control. "Th

u?" I asked, glancing at his frayed

the insult. He straightened his spine, puffing ou

he boomed, his voice deepening as he channele

pha's

chological hammer that bypasses the

er hit me. It washed over

dn't even blink.

I didn't kneel. I didn't

ted for me to collapse, but I

t it?"

"How are you standing

aid, stepping into his personal spac

a can command a Beta or an Omega. But a lower-ranking Alpha cannot

ouldn't process that the "useless

ndoning the mystical for the physical. "I'm taki

r my arm. He wanted to drag me. He w

mo

rs could touch m

. I snatched his wr

que

ac

screamed, droppi

s back, driving his face into the dirt with

my lips were close to his ear. "Don'

e pain in his wr

am not your pack member. And I am

g him forward. He face

n my coat, as if I had t

said. "Tell my father I'm in town. Tel

imousine at the cemetery gates. I didn't l