ra

he cut on my forehead, the needle pricks a minor annoyance compared to the throbbing ache behind my

e last thin

ittering tapestry of the city at night. Even in stillness, he radiated an aura of absolute power that made

rom the jacket still draped over my shoulders filling

ur help. I'll have my assistant wire the funds for the medical expen

ir own internal fire. He walked toward me, his steps silent on the polished floor. The

d through me. "But I am more curious as to why my nephew's fiancée was play

as a steel trap. He wasn't just making

out flinching. "Soon, I wil

my face, because I saw his eyes narrow, his expression

rs and bitter family arguments that Caspian and Julian's mother-Caspian's own sister-in-law-despised each other.

said, my voice cold and precise. "The future Luna of the Thorne Pack cannot be a walking j

atter of state. It was a calculated move,

in a barely perceptible smirk. He was intrigued. My little wolfless ma

beside my bed. The proximity was overwhelming. He leaned forward, lowering h

it that y

eed an ally. An ally powerful enough to make Julia

re defined this time. "And what do

my voice steady. "Everything I do will ultimately serve to strengthen the T

lden eyes searching my face, seeming to peel back

d, his tone once again cool and distant.

answer, hanging in

from my body, leaving me weak. My back was slick with cold swea

eared at my apartment door. He held a bouquet of red roses, their v

, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. "Elara... I'm sorry.

his heart. I felt nothing b

t," he said, holding out the flowers. "Let'

with shared memories, his favorit

s. "Julian, there's noth

one. "Elara, don't be childish. We have an engage

the sake of this engagement, I'm sup

ll make Seraphina apologize to you! Now, stop this nonsense and come to din

unpleasant headache, but my will remained my own. My inner wolf might be silen

physical distance that mirrored

," I said. "However, I will be

s face. He thought I was capit

ng the final blow. I looked him straight in the e

word with chilling precision, "to ta