city

, I did not wait

ourning. I pulled my hair back into a severe knot at the nape of my neck. M

lls of the manor, my destinati

eavy doors, the argument

a's husband. Donn's grandfather. Father to Euan and to Ansel, the lost Alpha whose name still hung over this house like a funeral bell. He looked frail,

ind her voice. "What is

the room, my steps measured and even, u

hand, I he

m weirwood, the pommel a silver wolf's head with sapphire eyes. It was Ansel Carl

his?" Euan demanded, his

he polished steel glint

poke, was clear and st

nd abandoned by Donn Carlisle at

a stark reminder of the shame t

s forsaken by their intended at the altar has the right to petition the Moon Go

isive snort. "You

nd. My focus was

, "to pledge my fealty and my spirit to the true hero of

of breath sucked t

ry and live out my days bound to him, ensuring the nam

followed was ab

r. "She's mad! Utterly insane! You, a W

to his mother for guidance.

hing-understanding, calculation, perhaps even admirat

aking a mate of his own. If I bound myself to him now, the family could turn my ruin into his final love story: the wronged bride who chose loyalty to a fallen hero over disgrace, the lonely Alpha mourned by

leaned forward. "Do you understand what you are aski

e unwavering. "I will be a Car

d. An identity they c

ds me, her cane tapping a slow, deliberate rhythm on

el's dagger

er eyes searching my face. "A vow of this nature i

nt, she drew the tip of the dagger across my palm. A line of red welled

her voice like the grinding of stones. "But know this. Should you ever be unfai

grip surprisingly strong, and tu

te is of this house. She is Ansel C

orked once, but no command came out. Neither of them could touc

cut burn deeper. It was pain. It was proof. A few drops

e. A

could never drag me