lyn

r was a mastercl

d dining table, he was playing the part of the devoted husband. He pulled out my chair. He passed me the salt. He even placed

owever, came from a

ion. "Four years is a long time to wait for the pitter-patter of little feet. Perhaps there are things a Luna should prioritize above... personal

mbled almost imperceptibly. The empty nursery. The silver dagger. The heir I could never give him. Every pair o

ed his wine glass and took a measured sip. His silence was lo

is amber eyes, so different from Kaden's stormy gray, held a glint of pure amuseme

yself. "I need some air," I murmured, pushi

n, washing away the cloying atmosphere of the dining room. I found a stone pavilion

ed on the gravel

lian's voice was laced with mockery. He came into the pavi

ression cold. "This has

said, taking a seat across from me. "

ed out a tiny, metallic object. A USB drive. He p

asked, my voice ti

lity-hotel records, timestamped proof of every rendezvous with Bianca. Embarrassing, certainly. But we both know

t. His biggest competitor is Alexander Group. And Kaden-our noble, honorable Alpha-personally instructed our project lead to ease up on the bidding.

bleeds the pack dry for one. That drive contains financial records, internal communications,

rimand. But corruption-an Alpha sabotaging his own company's bid to enrich his mistres

potent it was like bile

't trust him. The Alexanders did

l give him that. But he's arrogant. He's blinded by his own rules and his ridiculous sense of honor. And his biggest we

you want

ne, replaced by a raw, burning ambition. "Ruin his reputation. Make

ring beneath that polished smile. He had spent his entire life in Kaden's shadow, the spare heir, t

ulian's ambition was no less ruthless than Kaden's. Once Kaden fell, I would be disposable.

ngers around it. "I'll think a

knew I had already made my choice. He stood up. "Don't th

ny, dangerous device. Pandora's Box. I had just

"What were you and Julian talking about for so lo

f ice. I walked past him and into the

ing at my reflection in the mirror-my pale face, my swollen lips-

s going