Dumped the Alpha, Mated to the Lycan

y

m locks across my throat

y. His eyes move to Selena, t

len

ad already been sitting in his mouth

her arms, pulling her in. She says his name against his chest. He answers he

st my ribs so hard

breathe slow and even, the way my father taught me when

back,' I think. 'H

a second. It took less than a second for him to decide which one of us mattered. Three years of showing up, of being useful, of asking for nothing, a

st my ribs again. I hold he

come,' I tel

me. I'm not sure I

es the side of my head

t's the kind that settles into walls and stays. I si

d, tight anxious circles.

dy c

short. Then the sounds change, rogues running, scattering, Silvercrest driving them out. I try to stand. My

says my name, then says it louder. I can't get my mouth to work. I hear hi

d herbs. The medicinal smell of the pack doctor's room. Someone h

e door. I don't m

voice is

single word he said without flinching, something in my chest lifts. Some stupid, persiste

red of th

ders. He looks around the room first, then at the window, then finally at me. He walks

s. "There was confusion during the retreat.

tence. Doesn't apologize for wha

k of his coat a

"Selena is fine. Br

e it

doctor's room with a bruise along my jaw and no feeling in my hands.

d,"

ce out, don't give him the small reassuring nod that means I'm not going to make this hard

getting

nts you here another day. The cold exposure,

t the pack

mfortable, and walks out. Th

the quiet

told me to rest. That is the whole of what he has for me after a night in a frozen cell. Not I'm sor

ched against my chest, my palms so damp I was scared of leaving marks on the paper. My father two months dead. Highmoo

ew he could turn me away at the door. I went in an

meet me himself. I

s stop shaking. "If you want to refuse,"

ent. He looked at me.

ho honors a promise when he has every reason to walk away must be worth trust

ll of it finding out w

ten, and what he gives me is Selena is fine. And the thing in my ch

t goes

oes quie

d messages. None from Julian. One from my grandmoth

all

ond ring. "Ivy. Thank t

out steady. "Evelyn, I ne

ll

out loud. My chest doesn't seize up. My voice does

ays quietly. "I've known for a while. I just d

ave been re

nd nothing like the pack doctor's room. "Come home

n in it, hair loose, face pale, the bruise along my jaw already

ok like. Someone who got left in a cell while e

low careful voice I have heard through walls every night and never once heard directed at me. I used to lie awake and

m the fingers upward. I don't know how long I sleep. When I surface, the l

hear fo

ight enough to seem careful, but not so light that they

oor o

ce, carrying just a thread of sw