len

fabric of my sleepwear, and

ring pain demanding I shove her away before I lost control and shattered her fragile human frame. But my Inne

PULL HER CLO

gly extracted my arm from her grasp. I forced my mind away from the intoxicating, heavy wave of her wild hyac

ck cylinder, and shoved it firmly down the center of the massive mattress. An impenetrable no-man's-land. I spent the rest of the night sta

e answer seemed to l

bed linens. Hattie's professional mask slipped into a subtle, satisfied smile as she gathered the sheets

deceptive ruse to fool the Pack and the Elders. Hattie left the room, eager to report her "findings," leaving me staring

reat Hall felt like

f the heavy oak table, but my stepmother, Lad

voice carrying clearly over the clinking of stoneware. She took a slow sip of her te

low, warning growl rumbled deep in my chest, my wolf bristling at the disrespect shown to our Mate

ee adopted sons-Jaxon, Asher, and Leo-were ushered in to greet their

respectfully, Elara's gaze sharpened. She di

sweetheart," sh

-the worn leather of his boots straining

er voice devoid of pity but full of practic

d, hollow ache in her chest. Endless, suffocating hours were spent locked in my chambers, with no power and no pack. To keep my hands busy and my mind from unraveling, an old housekeeper-a kind woman from the countryside-had taught me the art of l

ng. I, the Alpha who oversaw the welfare of the enti

icious point. I watched her gentle hands resting near Jaxon, desperately trying to decipher if I wa