nor

a blur. My mind was still reeling, trying

Hannah was practically vibrating wi

ed, staring out the window. "T

gut. Why had he agreed so readily? But it was

I needed to go back to that house. My home

to say a fi

them alone. She waited in the car as I walked up the st

s armchair like a king on his throne. My mother, Martha, perched on the edge of the sofa, her face a mask of

e back," Warren said, h

on the staircase. I just wan

, the Alpha authority in his voice m

newel post, but didn't

on a chalkboard. "Behaving like some common tramp. You

turned slowly, my expression a blank wal

avior!" Warren slammed his han

, I know you're hurt. But what's done is done. Ka

ing. It was like looking at a complete

down her cheek. "I didn't mean for it to happen, sister... We

a profound weariness settled deep in my bo

y voice clear and steady, cutting through the thick, d

the room sw

yla, and I let the words drop into the

'clock, I will be at City Ha

It was so complete, I could hear the tic

break, scrambling to his

tared at me as if I'd grown a secon

nd raw, ugly jealousy. Marry Alaric Charles? The thought was so

, her voice cracking. "Mr. Charles w

aw the truth. They weren't worried about m

, the disposable one, had manage

achment I had to this family, to

chaos and started up t