a's

rriors arrived from the Pack House along w

cts to me, they turned t

e at the main house for instruction," one of t

truction?" Mirand

anyone who damages a Pack Elder's valuable possessions must kneel i

am the Alpha's-" she caught herself just in time, remem

ryone, Mrs. Miranda," the g

speak, but Thompson knowi

You've already been through enough with the Alpha Al

ll. I'd merely wanted to ask about Luna Beth's health, as I

s management, but family matters had

protested, she would have

freezin

ed every m

ther glance as I prepa

bled. "Luna, what

it soon for restoration, then it will be

anyone that the set in the

safely stored in my

tely i

ith the wish that I would think of her whenever I used

-

us's

forced to kneel in the courty

utes, I arrived a

hit my face, my black cashmere coat falling straig

I saw

knees in th

in me snap

e into

ulled her into my arms without a word.She was freezing,

estless beneath my ski

ad done, she was sti

y from the pack house, not s

-

fa and began applying ointment to her reddened

voice steady. "When grandmother gives an order, you

at my sleeve, her eyes red-rimmed and filled with tears. "Lucius, w

ightly. "You

ing to a whisper. "She deliberately tricked me in

ministrations as I defended my mate-my legal wife. "Viya has the gen

ly at Miranda, "Grandmother cherishes her more than anyone.

. "Are you saying I'm lying about

rose sharply. "You

d with her disappointed eyes, I forced myself to remain calm

an you honestly say you don't have any feelings for

ith Miranda. Yet faced with this particula

e mate bond,

ispleased at my hesitati

es. "I have nev

the words. Not just for the lie itself,

with her wolf-all to avoid the pull of our fat

e hand supporting her lower back, the other holding a gift bo

. "Lucius, Luna Beth wants to know if you'll at

ast into an orphanage for rogue wolve

sar brought her home and vowed to raise her

e Blackwood Pack. Even after she married me, business dea

ed. "Of course. I'll come pick you up t

rig

n glanced at Miranda sitting beside me. With character

nt to stop her. "Viy

ing the package a li

f your friends have

ersary gift. I was plan

sical blow. Three years. We had b

ay sneered. *You forget what's import

e words felt hollow eve

meeting mine steadily as she handed me the box. Her voice was soft

ides, your birthday is in two weeks. C

hday, Lucius!" sh

p and quick slice through my heart. It wasn't e

ous care. It was obvious how much thought she'd put int

rd, harboring selfish secrets I

o an apricot-colored wool coat and wrapping a scarf around her neck. Her de

n she w

gait wasn't right. She

wled. *Our mate is in pa

Miranda let out a sharp hiss of p

helped her sit down again. "Is your knee botheri

lanced at the box in my hands. She muttered, "You claim you don't have

da, I've already

cheeks. "What about me? Lucius, what are you th

Viya isn't that

u realize every word you

se from the sofa, crying pre

r a moment before

what I was thi

hear anyone speak ill of

reminded me. *The bond exists whether you acknowledge

package, and I couldn't help wondering if