Thorn

ched in my hand. Below, the annual Mating Gala was in full swing-a vibrant, swirl

nt and commanding as ever. "You could at least pretend to be interested, Alari

evening. It was fixated on a small, pale Omega with the scent of chamomile and sorrow. In the weeks since I'd discovered the trut

l dust compared to her,* he grumbled, dism

lly built she-wolf with silver-blonde hair. "The daughter of th

swept across the room, landing, as if by mag

t of date. She was a wilting wildflower in a hothouse of exotic blooms. She looked even paler

nowhere

, her fiery auburn hair a fiery cascade down her back. She radiated an aggressive confide

, but I could read the venom in the sharp, deliberate movements of Jessa's lips. I saw Elara

nger began to smolder in my gut. Why would a

and sudden it stole my breath. My wolf snarled, a low, possessive sound of

tight. I set my glass down with a shar

to put an end to the pathetic display

pack members parted before me like the sea before a s

of panic crossed Jessa's face. Elara's was fil

d on Jessa, two ch

feet away when he

murmuring something in her ear. His actions were not those of a warrior stopping

are at Elara, a look that sc

gh the crowd, leaving Elara utterly alo

tableau. All my suspicions solidified into hard, cold fact. Ryk

ballroom. And for the first time in my long, lonely life, my heart ache