lea'

pes of the central territories bled into jagged mountains an

a manor-it was a fortress. Built of dark, unforgiving stone, it loomed over the landscape like a predator. No

out, and a chill that had nothing to do with the tempe

stepped forward from the shadows of the entrance-tall, broad-sho

eta." A low rumble. No ha

the outside. High ceilings lost in shadow. The air thick wit

ga servants the Thornes had sent

he Alpha has no need for Thorne servant

ed away, loaded back into the car. It sped off, leaving me u

a long, dim corridor. He stopped at a heavy woode

ark tapestries on the walls, a single barred window overlooking

aded into silence, and that silence was profound

rtress was as quiet as a tomb. I sat on the edge

I fel

twisted, corrupted. Suffocating, filled with a rage so potent it felt like phys

t exploded inward, spli

ying, shoulders so broad they filled the frame. A

Enzo B

blood-red. A low, guttural growl rumbled in his

the bed, heart hammering

e door, the next he was on me. His hand closed around my throat, impossibly

ngs screamed. I clawed at his hand, nails scraping useles

h pain and madness. His red eyes stared into mine, but he wasn't

ess began to fade,

owed by warriors carrying thick

's lost co

and threw one across the room. But anoth

r, like water hitting a hot skillet. Enzo screamed-pure agony, far

him. The hand around

, gasping, coughing, dragging pr

east thrashing against the silver that seared his skin. It took all

his body convulsing, his agonize

as left of it-w

lready beginning to bruise. I'd survived my wedding night. But I knew, wi