n P

m were a courtesy. The dec

n the two folders on his desk as if one was a vial of poison and the other a l

the math now, the same way he always did: weighing his pride against his pack. His eyes lingered on Plan B a moment too l

ut because he was Alpha, and an Alpha's first instinct, ev

nd-a cornered animal searching

ossible. Any move against us now would be a direct challen

ic financial losses and a complete loss of face before the

. I had closed every door

, were bloodshot and raw. The arrogance was gon

oarse. "Eden, why are you doi

ory we never had, to a softness i

g torn from his throat. "I neglected you. I was wrong. But

ke a shield. The last, most

Not for him, but for the woman who had sh

t fear was that you wouldn't be strong enough to hold it together. My role was to be the perfect Luna, to project an image of stability,

as been fulfilled. As for protecting this pack, that is y

more lies or threats or manipulations left

r, escaped his lips. "So there was neve

ast shred of his ego-needing to believe he had been loved

il on a yellowed piece of paper, flashed in my mind.

a long moment, my

as?" I asked softly. "

of his pride. He visibly deflated, the fight draining out of h

desk, vibrated softly. Th

errifyingly empty-all the fire, all the anger, gone, replaced

for a second over the damning Plan B folder be

der, flipped it open without reading the terms he already knew, and scrawled a jagged, de

document back acr

e said, his voic

Julian, who reviewed the signature

thing the front

t, the formal rejection ceremony will take place tonight, at the rise of t

the desk, I walked out of the office. Kenzie and Julian followed,