die

striking my eyes. I woke with a groan, every muscle in my body sc

ace relaxed in the soft light, the harsh, predatory lines

night rushed back in a

here. I carefully, silently, slid out from un

sed in a heap, catching myself on the edge of the nightstand to kee

he pathetic pile of torn blue satin. My dress was ruine

loset. It was a sea of black, grey, and white. Impeccably tailored suits, rows of identica

d-thighs, the sleeves dangling past my fingertips. It smelled of him-that intoxicating, d

heels, and fled. Barefoot and wrapped in his scent

a was a blur. I let myself in with my fingerpr

he grand foyer was

en I s

ique velvet sofas, his posture rigid.

zeroed in on me. They raked over my appearance-the tangled hair, the bare

towards me, his Alpha aura rad

nto the bone. "Where the hell were you?" h

t night. The part of me that used to cower before his anger

re I was?" I asked, my voice dangerously quiet. "Wher

usation, made him flinch. The fury in his

mered, the classic, pathetic excuse. "

urn. "Save it," I said, my voice dripping with contempt. "I heard you

red. He was cornered. Enraged. He raised his ha

chin, my eyes daring him. "Go ah

. He looked into my eyes and saw not fear, but c

ing into a wheedling, manipulative tone. "Elo

did, he froze. His nostrils flared. Hi

owerful one. It was all over the shirt, all over m

d been burned. The color drained fr

t," he choked out, the words laced with a venomous m

ng the distance, my voice as col

ennan. The eng