ela

of white ceilings and the stea

harp agony in my stomach was gone, replaced by a d

re aw

e bed. He looked terrible. His shirt was rumpled, his eyes blo

d. My throat fel

from a pitcher on the bedside table. He held

d softly. Not a

water was coo

down. He didn't look at me. He looked at his ha

whispered. "

ze. It wasn't in their nature. "I moved you to a VIP suit

closing my eyes. The title

nstead of taking me back to the Pack Hous

dow. I was wearing a soft cashmere sweater Kason h

he rearview mirror. "You need fresh air. And... people have been t

earances. The rumors from t

te of the werewolf world-Alphas, Betas, wealthy business partners.

s "indisposed," though I suspected he had

ll of my back. His touch burned, but not in the way Hadley's

alia had that. Instead, I wore a simple string of freshwater pearls. They were m

nes, antique swords, vacations in the Alps. I stared bla

ot 45. A rare, hand-carved wolf's tooth

d snap

resting on black velvet, was a necklace made of

it in a souvenir shop. I had cherished it, wearing it under my shirt

donated this," I sa

said, swirling his wine. "Dal

id quietly. "You told me i

his eyes didn't meet min

e thousand dollars!" t

eta from a neighbor

n tho

sented the lie of my childhood. Kason had given

red, more to myself than h

w the emptiness in my eyes. The adoration that used to b

hed across

Kason shouted, r

neer blinked. "Alpha Oneal? You

ed, his voice laced with Alph

mbarrassed as heads turn

s eyes were wild. "It's yours. I gave it t

neal for twenty t

d. He looked at me, expecting gratitude. Ex

oked at t

son," I said softly. "I do