a P

curdled int

ve of Alpha pressure rolled off him, a tangible forc

ife, it woul

sure of Graydon Sinclair IV, the Alpha King's heir and the future king of wolves, when he quelled a rogue beast in the Sacred

y ground,

shed to his side, her performan

how could you? We were only t

oice, sharp and scolding. "Alea White! Th

t's furio

scaped my lips. "Mr. Bradford, I thin

practiced innocence, Elois's righteous outrage, and Katy's smug anticipation from behind her mother's

tying smile had once appeared on her face as she fastened a beautiful

d worn that locket constantly. I had treasured

s. I had been framed, disgraced, and confined by my own father. It became the first public excuse

ons, their concern, their outrage-none of it was real. They had lied to me with t

d the old grief narrowed

g slowly to face them all-the traitors, th

t carried to every corner of

first heir to th

of my title settle in the air

k Elders to dissolve the betrothal cont

e hall. The declaration was a bomb,

, arguments, perhaps a desperate plea. He had never, in hi

ever his only legitimate claim to

r entire future was predicated on t

in their script. The Alea they knew was pathetic

lunged forward, his voice drop

any idea what this will do to

, "than the shame of welcoming a ha

d on his rage, h

I addressed my personal attendant, Moira Nash, who

ion. I want it delivered

her head despite her as

finally crashed down on Kirt.

attempt at conciliation. "Alea, wait. Let's...

ut on her most pitiful expression. "Miss Alea, it's all

so transparent. It filled

hand, and M

g smile spreading across my face. "Yo

gly, flared in both h

e single word drip

hands and knees. And then, you will get down