Vanc

was healed enough. I found Kaelen in a vast study lined with ancient books

dy. "I'm grateful for your hospital

up from the map he

taken aback by t

. The borders are not secure. You are not safe out

esperation creeping into my voice. "The

ething-displeasure, perhaps, or something deeper I couldn't name-crossed his featur

o be a novel experience for a king accustomed t

and his brother, Lorcan, en

e. His wolf remains dormant. However," he paused, glancing at me, "since Miss Vance's arrival, his emotiona

ha King, his wolf seems to be responding directly to

in his calculations changed. He had found it. The perfect, unbreakable chain to

said, his voice once again cool and detached. "You saved

" I said, my guard up.

. You want power. You want a position where no one can ever hurt you or

on was as sharp and unnerving as his

ng the air from the room. "I can offer you a sho

asked, my voice

engulfing me completely. He looked down at me,

s devoid of emotion as if

me my

I stared at him, certain I had

grant you the title of Luna of the Blackwood Pack. You will have statu

make sense of the absurd offer. An Alpha King, offering the sacred role of Lun

A lie. There had to

mense, undeniable-the furthest thing from Wolfless I had ever encountered. And yet, the rumors persisted. Whispers th

th the raw, primal force I had sensed radiating from him. But the truth remained: wh

. He was looking for a convenient Luna-someone to fill the role, to prese

. "And Caelus needs you," he added, driving the final nail into the coffin of his

er, a convenience. I would be a glorified nanny with a crown. The same feeling of being u

he continent, the man offering me a world of riches and

ref