phin

he first wave of

of reckless, emotional mistake the old me made when Da

wing. I pulled the most recent summary of my grandparents' trust from the locked drawer be

omewhere downstairs. Then, nearly twenty minutes later, Damien's stride cut back

whatever performance she had chosen for the afternoon. Damien had returned to the heart of

printed from my phone, a formal petition for Rejection and a basic outline for the s

e second-floor landing. His study was at the far end, the heart of his power i

n't k

brass handle and pu

bratory cigar. He was sitting behind a massive mahogany desk, the size of a small

oice a low, dangerous rumble m

h Persian rug that muffled my footsteps

rp, definitive thud

own. His eyes, chips of ice, lifted to meet mine. The fury from our ea

I planted my hands on the polished wood, leaning forward slightly,

ad the neatly typed label: "Rejection

ed back in his throne-like leather chair, steepling his fingers under his chin. He

n. "You mean that little monthly allowance your family doles out to

f a laugh that held no humor. "Yo

eight. "Do you have any idea what the world is like for a lone wolf? For a female with no pack, no protection? Rogues

veins. He was painting a picture of my weakness, a narrative he

h his condescending tone. "At least their intentions are honest. They want to

d, the mask of amusement falling a

ot for me. He snatched t

II

silent study. He ripped my petition, my declaration o

was just a pile of con

n hope that settled on the priceless rug. Then he leaned across

ou will stay here, in this house, and

could feel the low thrum of his Alpha power, the subtle release of pheromones des

was trying to c

t and took a step back, out of th

back up at his furious face. There was no anger in my v

n," I said softly. "But you can't tear up m

ing he was entirely unfamiliar with, and it was making him rec

ppressed violence. The Alpha's Command. It was a force tha

, a whisper of inst

word. Arguing with a

y head held high. The sound of my heels on th

over my shoulder, a flicker of a tr

said, my tone laced with mock concern. "I'm sure Lil

ed the door open and stepped ou

AS

hitting the wall inside the s

ounds of his rage. The breaking of glass, the spli

rtainty that the easy

n that I would have to get