il

he cabin was colde

a surprise the windows didn't frost over. The expensive, logo-emblazone

ne hummed from the backseat. The occasional landmark po

t of the truck. Into the cabin. His bedroom do

nt well, don't you think?" A wink. "Give him

't what I felt. Si

opping bags were piled in the corner of the tiny room, their presence suffo

Cold and alien in my hand. In the moonli

ined by the things she owned. N

couldn't

sion w

y folded-the silk blouses, the cashmere sweater, the ridiculously expensiv

room. Heart a nervous

s room, dressed for the day, I was t

the floor before me. The black card

le. "Thank you, and thank your grandmother for t

this is the price of being your mate, Don

a moment, a flash of genuine surprise-a crack

cal hardness. Probably just another trick in his mind. A more sophistic

u wish

ng mine. A jolt, like a tiny spark of electricity,

hopping bags were gathered

. That little spark of hope-finally sputtered and died

van

creaked under the p

she give

n. It didn't make sense. The test was clear. The results should have been simple. T

price of bein

and steady, rep

r at a scenic lookout overlooking a lake. This n

pulled out. A

y behind me. My Beta, Vance Holt, got out. As always,

indow. "Alpha.

pping bags and the black card were pass

flicker of something in his gaze-not surprise, but maybe appreciation. He was one of

The investigation into Griselda Patrick

d been using to bleed the Blackwood Pack's corporate holdings dry was la

ting back to the cabin, to a pair of clear, honest gray e

rough a charity gala she hosted

arper than

ing my moods. A beat of waiting before

ut the girl... about April

The test was a failure. No clear, easy answer. Only

g else e

ed long. Vance

ed like ash. Pride-stubborn Alpha prid

followed, one from a deepe

r." Barely a whisper. "I

time, a crack had appeared in the wall of i