Newma

began t

"I didn't mean to cause trouble between you two. I'm just a bu

portrait of

ive instinct, my hand shoo

Ciara, trying to regain my dominance. "She is my guest. Y

y level, completely unaffected by my ang

winter ice, "we need to discuss the terms of my departure. I want you to offic

precise, it felt like a ph

r her share of the pa

petty

," she clarified, her tone mocking, treating me like a bad debt. "Three thousand

me exactly how little our life

as an almighty Alpha, ro

llions-at least that would mean she

th a rage I couldn't contain, completely ignoring the stinging, bleeding pa

ising with a spark of lethal heat. "A convenient cage you can throw me

heir mark with

mouth open, but

ng the battle and the narrative

ing to her chest as she gasped desperately f

s wide with manufactured panic.

my own phone buz

led i

read: Pac

ice escalating into a hysterical sob. "Oh,

e call, my he

voice was tinny and u

eva, my voice tight. "He hit his head.

gainst my chest, her body

o my arm like a lifeline. "You have to ta

ed at

to muster a low, commanding tone to mask my retreat. "I am abs

wait for

mbling shoulders and practically fled out of t

Ford

I watched them scur

tation, I turned and walked calmly u

orn suitcase from th

t, purposeful, and complet