is

s on the way to Alston's residence now seemed to mock me. I leaned my head against the cool glass of the window, wa

d curdled into a cold, h

eth, said softly, her voice laced with

glass, my fingers steady. "Gwyneth," I said, my voice even, "I need you to do something for me. Check the

simply nodded. "Of course, my lady." She knew b

ry word, every smile, every touch from Alston. The signs had all been ther

brightly lit, and I could hear the faint sounds of lively music and clinking glasses

was my cousin, Carson. Carson was preening in a new gown of lake blue silk, the latest design from the most exclusive couturier in the ci

sensitive nose. She always masked her ruthless ambition beneath a sweet, obedient facade. She moved to link her arm with mine

all, but sharp. Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second. I l

ovetous resentment in her gaze, the same look she had worn since childhood whenever I received something she wanted. She was already calculat

n a day of joy. It is truly bad luck. We have been waiting for you to join the celebration, but it seems you are too selfish to be happy for your own cousin. Still spending your mother'

ping past them and

espised my mother's weak, human-like merchant blood but happily drained her wealth, sat enthroned in her high backed chair, he

ch aura rolled over me, a heavy pressure designed to make weaker wolves submit. "So, you deign t

ession fraught with worry

apped, and my mother flinched

iately rushed to Cydney's side, fussing over her

ooked at Carson. She patted her hand affect

sion. "Carson becoming the heir's Luna brings tremendous glory to the entire Rowe family. You should be thrilled. A merchant's dau

like you managed to become Luna, you would only be a laughingstock among the nobles. Carson, on the other hand

e with shock and pain. They had not even bothered to tell h

und, constantly yielding to their demands. But seeing them gleefully steal my future finally shattered my last il

bubble up from my chest. They were

hey expected a breakdo

o bare my throat to her. "Then I assume the two hundred thousand silver coins for Carson's title will be paid by the second house?

y stared at me as if I ha

ill shriek. "What nonsense are you talking about? Tha

. She could not deny it. My heart sank. She had compromised again, sac

he Lara fortune belongs to the Rowe Pack through ma

ed directly into her sharp, cruel eyes. "Oh? I was unaware that federa

n my lips. "Or has the Rowe Pack's authority g

, flashed behind her eyes, a snarl of pure, possessive greed. She wanted to shift. She wanted to tear me apart with her claws. But she could not. Not here. Not without proving me right. Her hand trembled s

my mother's eyes, surprise, fear

other, my voice softening. "Mother,

ieved that no matter what I did, I could never change the lowliness of my merchant blood, I would let them see exactly w