Vanc

ckhouse. I had chosen my most unremarkable outfit: faded j

s personal vehicle, was a

had changed into a chic designer dress that probably cost mor

ormal Alpha attire. When his stormy eyes met mine, something un

proprietary kiss to his cheek before waving me ov

wn, my eyes fixed on the gravel at m

cture of a doting fiancé. Once she was settled inside, she looked

mate. The back seat was for children, for subordinates, for outsiders. I remembered long drive

ear door and slid i

focating. The intermingled scents of Ryker's forest and Ser

irror for a split second. I immediately

politics and alliances, her tone light and exclusive, as if I wasn't there.

bout a time they spent at her family's Volkov estate. It was a subtle, cruel

ndow, watching the blur of trees rush by. I felt

ge. It couldn't understand why its mate was allowing an

e and earbuds from my pocket, pretending to l

smile tight. "Listening to music in a moving car is bad f

forcing a stiff smile. "I'm sorry

He knew. He remembered comforting me on long pack journeys when I was a

e of water from the glove compartment and passed it back to me. "Here, drink some water. It

his lips. He could only watch me in the mirror

e cold plastic, a useless talisman

ing made her point, said no more. She simply leaned her head ag

arview mirror. He d

tood. The Mate Bond, the sacred pull the Moon Goddess bestowed upon us, meant nothing. In

haky legs. My knee joint ached from holding the same rigid posture for the entire ride