. My heart hammered against my ribs at the speed of it. Taking a jagged

ion and hit send just a

terface, my hand shook, and the trackpad skidded. I accidentally double-clicked a res

es, before I finally managed to close t

hen she saw me in the hall. "See? I told you the Alpha w

d just seen. I felt like I'd accidentally stumbled into the dark h

e cameras in there?"

dor leading to the

ce. "Then he'll know. He'll

were only in there for ten minutes. He's a rational Alpha; he

hours of work for that much? The influx of money settled some of the jagged glass in my chest. I didn't mean to pry, a

hand against my flat stomach. "I don't want to lose you, little one," I whispered to the empty air. "

like a physical weight, and I slumped over th

ic, heavy boots in the hallway. Before I could even

d. "Did you touch something on his

y throat. "Is he back

He's in a cold rage in the study, tearing through the digital f

this rate, the divorce wouldn't matter because Ethan Cart

nd slipped when I was trying to exit... I swear,

ained grim. "He roared at me to get ou

. I stood up, my legs shaking, a

ushed Ethan's chair out into the foyer. Even though the mansion was only t

of cold fury, his amber eyes burning with a lethal fir

crashed and I had a deadline. I used your station without asking

g room. Ethan's eyes were bloodshot, the gold light in

his voice a low, vibrating growl t

white as bone. If he weren't tethered to that chair,

ally think I was part of this pack?

remember the details! It was a blur, I swear! I just wan

ysical wave. "Get to your room. Do not cross that thr

er loathing radiating off him like a physical heat. Once my door cl

for him. N

me out. Patricia didn't dare argue. In the Silve

d pressure had stabilized. She was released from t

u be back on the ice?" she asked, her voic

ly. "But we need to talk about the di

myself. He's a resilient boy, and I've grown fond of him. Whe

ers," Ethan said,

rty-eight hours since I'd had anything but

all on the floor, leaning against the cold stone wall, my hair a matt

w my face-gaunt and pale as a ghost-her own face went red with fury. "

My lips were cracked and dry, and my chest felt heavy with eve

milk, pressing it to my lips. "Drink this, Co

chair. "You are starving him? He is half the size he was a week ag

hal. "If it weren't for your interference, I would have broken

at could he pos

uldn't imagine me being bold enough to anger her son. Ethan

ing with tears. "But I won't let you do this. Collins is a good boy. Even

ing sour with stress. Ethan saw her sway

ce? Find a girl or a boy you actually care for first! I won't let you

and for the second time in a week, the Matriarc

now his mother's life was tied to my presence. He hated me, and he h

life back to my limbs. I heard everything. I heard the

y brush the tangles out of my hair. "Did you hear, Collins?

sp. "I want out. Whether he lets me g

ther hour in this c

aid sadly. "I have to see wh

ng pushed toward my room. "He's still

e like frozen lakes. I looked up as he entered, our

ing the suitcase I'd packed days ago. I forced myself to stand, eve

hate me that much? You think you're

t with two days of hunger. We're even. Give me th

ruel smirk touched Ethan's lips. "D

'd struck me a

a nightmare for you... you will

ill divorce when I decide the time is right

ck, my teeth bared in a silent snarl. He thought he could

d, the world spinning in shades of gray. I needed to calm down. If he wasn't let

nic for a follow-up. I was certain the baby was gone. Two days of starvation

e, feeling hollow. "Do

" the healer asked, moving

-eight hours. I was und

eep food down for a month during their first tr

mered. "So,

one heartbeat on this monitor. You're carryi