a P

e. A low growl rumbled in his chest, the sound of his inner wolf straining again

rowed. She recog

ed, her voice sharp with authority. "Do not go too far! Kirt is the heir to the Bradfo

ht, sister. How could you make such a vile request? Kirt was jus

ys been the mediator, the one who smoothed things over, all w

ering breath. He forced his wolf down, but his eyes promised

he said, his voice strained. "If you wan

trothal was an agreement between two Packs, tied to a significant portfolio of a

ida's weeping quieted. Her

astounding, "but she is my Fated Mate. By ancient tradition, she

have to accept her, but the White Pack must provide a settlement befitting

side me. This was it. This was the exac

ned over one of my mother's estates and

best, sister. Pay them off. Think of it as cutting out a cancer

was again, playi

"Those assets are a drop in the bucket for us. Think of it as... c

greedy eyes were already calc

is. A pack of hyenas, their faces alight with avaric

answer im

he foyer, and sank gracefully into a high-backed armchai

e power dynamic completely. Suddenly, the

cold tea on the side table with a fresh, steaming po

a, are you considering it? This is the

ok I gave him was one of profound pity, the kin

marched into my house with your mistress on your arm and a bill in y

landed l

one hand flyin

crawling into another woman's betrothal bed. If that now requires a settlement,

face drain

orward, furious. "

control your mistress. Do not embarrass

the room

wn on its saucer wi

understand," I said. "You are not here to negotiate. You are h

locked o

e a traitor wearin

pointing at the

ing to invoice the wom

lois and Katy, and my voice

u have eaten at my table, spent my mother's money,

xpression

rted, but no s

walked toward them, my s

No trust fund. No allowance. No carriage, no jewels, no p

in front

uined his own engagement for her. If you cannot affor

my lips. It held no humor, only th

Kirt, my voice a bl

her the dust from my doorstep. And I would sooner burn every acre of

es me

t o