o

nt smile off her face as she ste

ng the chandelier and bouncing off the marble

gone exactly ac

king hated Julie

was stronger or p

was supposed to have. Juliet was an Omega, low-born trash, raised

match. True,

fia was the L

Strong. Beaut

off like livestock-a bargaining

to a monster of an Alph

ut-yes, she made it her life

of

wn the hallway, sharp as a blade. Her he

e you been? What ha

rop just enough to look exhausted and traumati

ligent, calculating,

id quietly, "we ne

licked to the staf

sed them, then dragged Sofia int

snapped. "He's absolutely furious. Where's

settled onto the velvet couch like she owned the world. She cro

oothe and redirect. Let her mother focus on Juli

finally said. "She wanted something t

rrowed dangerously.

. To the Alpha.

ost-white. "But... the c

d just enough bourbon to feel the burn and let it

andlin

harp edge of the desk. Pain exploded up her side

r mother ga

tain cord and dragged it across both wrist

ntic," she said, her

ly with grudging admiration. "You'

ious

watered naturally. "She's been a liabi

she's

ed, the implicat

pure venom. "Please. The Moon G

, tires crunching on grav

ce dropping to a whisper. "He's here. With hi

tly. "I've got this.

Jul

ce. Not sweet. Not kind.

does-she'll be completely broken. N

ved in cold pride. "M

meeting room was de

ds stared down like silent judges, and a massive tab

s found it o

s Blair was no

barely restrained fury, his presence filling the room like toxic gas.

ring with pleasantries. His voice was low an

what happened," Alpha Walton said. He sounded calm, but Sofia could

th ice in his voice. "Last night, an Omega was delivered t

. Her mother gave Sofia t

e frame, her hair deliberately mussed, clothes artfully torn, with

genuine exhaustion creep into her voic

o her. Alpha Kaius focused on

said with arctic

her cheeks on cue. "It was Juliet. My adop

ster?" h

harity when she was young. My parents wanted to help her. But she's

de, placing a protective a

"When she discovered the arrangement betwee

and locked me in the basement storage room. She stole the moonflow

wer?" as

"In large doses, it can artificially trigger heat cyc

ted. His jaw clenched, and Sofia s

something deadly quiet, "that an Omega overpowered an Alpha

ng gaze. "She wanted to carry your child. She thought i

lpha Kaius began pacing, every st

d herself and manipulated me," he said. "That sh

"She's dangerously unpredictable. We gave her too m

fia with a stare that could have melted steel. Sh

erent

uliet's always been... unnaturally clever. She can read peop

. "She's also obsessed with chemistry and medicine. Always experimentin

ildhood. Bedridden a lot. Juliet was my closest friend, my sister in everything but blo

in Kaius's jaw. Something

y focus. The bruises. The tear

ly, his golden eyes still locked on Sofia's face l

always had serious concerns about her psychological state. She has an... unnatural talent for manipu

ed to face him w

re mis

went to

aid. "Bring Juli

n our packs?" Alpha Walt

ality. "I didn't come here for politics. I ca

nothing. A flash of pure je

rd. Calm, but ab

e forced a false bond... then she i

ly si

he finished. "I don't ne

hit like

aid quickly. "We'll use eve

rnally. Phase one

make sure Juliet s