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

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