na

evere, well-tailored livery stepped out. He was tall, with the stern bearing of a lifelong soldier. To ju

iff, formal bow. "My master was impressed by your skill. He wishes to

ing. No payment is necessary." I kn

promise of gold. "A token of our appreciation. Furthermore, m

g. Instead of answering, I deflected with a

. "My master prefers to remain anonymous. He is mer

I could still feel that intense gaze fixed upon me. This

serene confidence from my face and replaced it with a mask of weary sorrow. The shi

ith a carefully crafted tremor, "more tha

n Garrick's eyes, and I knew the man inside the carriage was listening intently. The small

my aud

e gaining strength. "I am the daughter of

ough the crowd. The nam

tone, returned a hero and was granted their title." My voice was filled with a daughter's grief, a si

h condolences for my family. I was greeted by his return with a woman ca

land with the force of a physical blow. The

egn

daughter of the man

a disg

ony mask, but I could see the

on the Alpha King to release me from this unjust bond. But I am one woman, alone against a powerful Alpha

e, compassionate victim. It explained why a lady of a fallen house would dirty her hands, a

hless. He glanced back at the

prising authority despite its faint, weary tone, emerge

rrick, and it sent a jol

s bones, but the kind that uses scandal as a p

eful nod to Garrick.

f the onlookers, I, Elena Grant, ascended