ra

day. The moment the words "new marriage" left his lips, I had turned and fle

fering a desperate illusion of normalcy. The rich scent of roasted espresso beans usually cal

s, Benny, grabbed my arm. His

ck room. He looked terrified, his eyes darting toward the f

ed. "Benny, what? Did

d if I didn't terminate your employment immediately, she'd send her Warriors to ensure my

. He was just a human trying to survive on the edge of pack ter

white-hot rage. Caroline thought she was cutting off my only lifeline. She thought strippi

he didn't know about my late-night jewelry designs, or the secret commissions I sold

o find out how

ng violently under my boots. I threw open the heavy front doors and s

. "You have no right to t

died in

my father was a man I didn't recognize. He was in his late fifties

lled of stale leather and cloying, sweet cigars. It lacked the terrifying, magnetic purity of the cedar an

er eyes flashing with a wicked, triumphant gleam. "Elara, mind

culating assessment of a man inspecting livestock at an auction.

t the Sanford bloodline is pure. She'll make a fine breeding vessel. My pack needs

ng out a thick, ring-cove

ng eyes. I didn't mask my absolute disgust. I took

ut he quickly masked it with a patronizing chuckle. "Spirited. I can trai

walked out of the drawing room, leaving b

shut. The silence in t

y trembling with a mixture of horror

That, Elara, is the new marriage your father mentioned. You c

his chair, refusing to meet my eyes. In their eyes, I wasn't a dau