Y'S

f in the

f had stopped mid-attack, his jaws still cla

Ford. Blood dripped from Ford's neck wh

cold. "She threw a bottle at my Beta.

to his bleeding throat. "It's courag

looked at me. "Darling, you just assaulted a Council-recogni

though my hands were shaking.

child. "Because you signed a binding contract. Because you wore my ring. B

igned under false pretenses. You lied abo

ou've shown her is fabricated. Fake documents. Doctored photographs

saw the bank records! The text mes

inst actual bank statements? Did you confirm the text messages came fro

my mouth.

him. A man you met six hours ago. A man who crashed your wedding,

t's

ng covered in scars, claiming I tortured him. Shows you documents claiming I'm a mas

nto my chest

etly. "He's manipulating you. Making

n't know anything. She's confused. Traumat

shifted back to human. Twenty na

me. We're going to the Grand Council tomorrow morning. We're going to

n your father's p

en Alphas. Grant Mitchell is only one vote." Tyler's expression was reasonable. Logical. "If your evide

hey don't

ried. We live happily ever after." Tyle

d F

ing and assault." Tyler shrugge

pped. "No. Tha

. Destroyed church property. Injured six of my pack mem

protec

mfort?" He moved closer. "Lily, I know you're scared. I know this is overwhelming. But I'm not your enemy. I

onable. So calm. Ever

speration in his voice now. "Lily, don't

idence she can't verify. Evidence that convenie

ut his ha

I'm guilty, they'll punish me. If he's lying, they

his outstr

d made sense. Log

my chest screamed

e proof," I

ust for a second. Annoyance. Th

ind of

rs. The ones from Stoneclaw. T

ad," Tyler

ha

Car accidents. All of them." Tyler's voice

nvenient,"

y. But sometimes we have to make decisions based on trust. Who do you trust? A m

ead

video," Ford

on went very sti

e documents." Ford looked at me. "Page forty-seven. Security camera footage from

doesn't exis

. I have

r's voice was challenging.

hidden. In a secure locatio

can't produce it. Just like you have witnesses but they're all dea

ling the

desperate? Alone? The last survivor of a ma

s clenched

does to people. How it twists reality. Makes you see enemies where there are n

ed back

. Let me prove I'm not t

oat. At his desperate eyes. At the ma

ace. At his reasonable words. At the man

who to believe

his hand again. "Come with me. Tomorrow morning, we'll let the Council decide. If Ford is telli

ed so re

log

ead. Does that sound like love?

said q

ression har

ord. "I want to see the video. The security footage. I

not an

tomorrow. Fine. Tomorrow morning, we all go to the Council. Ford brings

t for a second. Rage flic

he sm

d at Ford. "But if you don't show up, if you run, the Council decla

there,"

followed. "See you tomorrow, darling. Try not to

wolves disappearing

e cras

outside, moving into the ca

table, his hand still pre

hurt,"

m f

fine. You'

tiny cabin. Then, quieter, "I'm sorry. I just-"

refully. "I chose to hear both s

in flickered in h

ve the video? The

es

No more 'it's hidden somewhere safe.' Sho

at Owen. O

Owen said. "Encrypted

l

he tiny cabin, the si

etly. "If you don't believe me y

smile. His perfect wor

e way he'd looked at m

ow if you're telling the truth, I know Tyler

t's your wolf. Even dormant, she

just p

y starting to tru

holding a sma

you need to know-once you see this, there's no going back. Once you know the t

sat down at the tabl

ressed

ire world