ine

blurring the city lights into streaks of red and gold. I let them fall. I let the grief tear through me, raw and animal

gh bridge, a place where teenagers came to make out and tourists came

ne. The silenc

A cord of light and energy that connected our souls. It was cur

d to si

Mind-Link that connected me to him. It was a link all mated pairs shar

Council. Instead, I wrapped it in layer after layer of ice, muffling it until the screaming became a whisper. Enough that he couldn't t

ng flashed on the screen. He was tracking my location. Far down the bridge, a pair of headlights appeared, moving slowly, deliberately. Hunting. I ducked lower i

y face impassive, as hi

onfused. Mayb

o

der touch, every whispered "I love you." It had all been a performance.

. For an Alpha like Elliott, it was about possession. Ownership. Mine.

dn't b

I would embrace it. This marriage wasn't a sacred

ts. Names flashed by. Friends, family, business associates.

stopped o

Hayes (

brilliant, ruthless, and had the sharpest tongue of anyone I'd ever met. Now,

always exhausting. She charged by the minute

to hold my hand and tell

ded a

button. It was ju

I was about to hang up whe

p-filled growl. "This better be a life-or-death emergency,

n voice eerily calm. "I

the other end. I could almost he

our years and not a single call, and now you call me at this hour. I thought you

stion's accuracy.

word felt inadequate. "In our

absolute. I heard a faint rustl

now, all traces of sleep gone. "Reject Alph

replied, my voice flat. "I need you, Slo

t prone to drama or hysterics. If I was making

ed. The lawyer in

word tasted like

u have

s of acquiring it,

Send me your location." She stopped herself. "No. Don't. Your phone is pr

And Addie? Do not come from the Pack House. Go somewhere else first. A

," I

ntil you are sitting in my office, you are the perfect, loving Lu

voice was a w

iately buzzed again. A ser

are yo

okay? You're

tting

ay, marking them as

ted th

Pack House. Not tonight. No

anonymous skyscraper. I guided the car into a private underground

enthouse apartment, bought under a shell cor

prepared for a d