ell didn't rush and that was the worst part. He moved with a deliberate calm that made everything

ack leather collar, " this is what you'll wear for me." Her throat tightened and the cold weight of the silver collar already felt suffocating

," she w

before a storm broke. "You can't?" he repeated softly. Giovanni swallowed hard, forcing herself

re it is," he whispered . "I was wondering when you'd find your spine." He leaned down, keeping one hand beside

heart pounded, but something new flickered beneath the fear. It was anger. "You said I chose this," she shot back, her vo

he grabbed her chin firmly enough to hold her still. "You think my brother showing up was a coinci

ing me," Russell said. "He's looking for weakness or a crack in my control. And right now " his grip tightened slightly

est twisted painfully. "I'm not a thing," she said. "No," Russell said, his tone almost thoughtful. "You're mo

e asked slowly. "A war bet

. "Everything is a war," he finally said. Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Then

this. You, your brother, the Council, the collars, the injections" her voice cracked. "You're all fighting

rse," she

to it. "If I'm so important," she continued, her voice steadier now, "then stop treating me like I'm disposable."

vive this." The words landed like ice before she could respond then he reached for the v

nd through his hair as if trying to shake off something invisible. "The Council will be back in forty-eight hours," he said. "

rvive long enough to matter." The heat in her body surged again, sharper this time, making

iking," h

in his eyes again that same brief crack she'd seen before but it vanished just as quickly. "You'l

d instantly. "What?" Declan's voice came through from the other side. "Alpha, we have a situation." Ru

nd of si

f the lower staff is missing," Declan continued. "And... there are signs someone accessed the w

." A low, lethal growl rumbled from Russell's chest. "He's still here," Russe

hadn'

he said. Giovanni swallowed hard. "What does that mean for me?" Russell walked back to the bed, stopping just close e