is

halls stood bare, the walls scarred with pale rectangles where paintings had once hung. Only the oldes

he manor was not what

ucks, a sleek black carriage bearing the royal crest of the Alpha King pulled up to th

of the Royal Court, a heavy, overwhelming musk of pure authority that made lower ranking wolves instinctively want to submit. "I am Preston Sterling," he announced, his voice

but he rushed forward, his face arranged in a welcoming smile. "Lord Sterling! What an unexpected honor. The donation, of course. I will ha

onation was pledged by the Lara

e you waiting for? This is

od territories," I corrected, my voic

n hardened. "Alpha Rowe. Is there a problem? If the R

urge to bare his throat in submission was evident in his trembling posture. "No!

sets by creditors. I see an Alpha who cannot produce funds he pledged to the Crown. Misappropr

remble. For the first time in my life, I saw genuine terror in his ey

re she sat on the steps. "Craig! Do som

her face white. "This is Adriene

ch for one long, terrib

ortium will ho

ead snapped toward me, his ey

lm and steady. "My mother gave her word. I will not see her name tarnished by this

er two hundred thousand silver coins to the Roya

rcus's voice came t

He turned a cold gaze on my father. "You are fortunate, Alpha Rowe, that your d

climbed back into his

ed with fury. "You worthless trash! Why did you not just pay it immediately? Y

d contempt. "I just saved you from

on the marble steps. "It does not matter! The money

tted house. Their scents were sour with misplaced joy and delusion. "Did you hear that, Carson? The

gift, completely ignoring the fact that the money was meant for charity. "Oh, Mother! I knew Alston would not

nce of their financial ruin, they were celebrating a title bought with money that was never theirs. I

inue with the repossession. I want every item purchase

ntly. "What? No! You cannot do this! The

e repossession is a separate matter. These assets belong

rateful

ice dangerously soft. "How do you think the Crown would view a Pac

. His inner wolf cowered, realizing he was completely outmatched. Because he knew

r waited. Behind me, the sounds of Marcus's men continued, methodically

ou will never have to dimin

mother to be taken to the finest p

t over, but thi