ce

t me like a

the sound a ra

is chest, scrambling away from him. The cool air on my expose

, my voice trembling. "I

his declaration. Now, a wave of whispers erupted from the crow

orror morphed into righteous fury. She p

ing with venom. "How dare you take advantage of th

ing for the one face that mattered. The

I saw him

ace a mask of shock, disgust, and some

ed to stand, to go to him, but my legs buck

s if to speak. But Eleanor was faster. She whirl

wailed, clutching his arm. "He has ruined

to my desperate, pleading one. I saw the conflict in his ey

him make h

aze to the floor, unable to meet

lurred. The whispers grew louder, a roaring in my ears. The combination

limp. I sta

n't hit t

effortlessly scooped me back into his lap. My head fell against his chest

, his voice so low only I c

smooth, economical. He draped it over my shoulders, carefully c

tion. But to the onlookers, it

ze him! Seize this wolfless monster and this... this un

ces grim. They reached for me, their hands like

mply looked at them, his grey

nal, but it carried a weight that made both guards freeze in their tracks. They saw som

hesit

r force," he said, his voice calm and steady. "I wi

ly maneuvered the joystick on his wheelchair, turning it around to face the hallway. The strength required to hold me

d across Eleanor's face. He

on his mother's strings, his face

up before us. I was paraded through the heart of the manor,

stors. Their painted eyes seemed to follow us, stern and jud

d for the most important Pack assemblies. At the far end of the hall, seated in a high-backed, carve

wood. The highest au

tine holding me, his brow furrowed in a deep, disapproving line.

um

rnous room, a gavel calling

d forward, her performanc

manufactured grief. "You must help us! A terribl