Gibs

ed up t

sharp edges. The small cut on my index finger

go to the

took off that deep red gown. I changed in

rk facing inward, and placed it inside a garment bag. I zipped it shut, the sound final, and

l night, watching the

Kaleb. It was Mark, his Beta. He stood there, holding a b

to you," he mumbled, his gaze f

ut a word and closed

in layers of tissue paper, was a scarf. It was made of the finest silk, shimmering with an iride

m it. Kaleb's scent, cedar and musk, was there. But underneath it, woven into the ve

't my p

A guilt gift. An expensive yet perfunctory trinke

s if it were contaminated and opened my l

dibly expensive designer brand, famous for infusing their silks

n the offic

blood r

tograph, was Cynthia Ryan. She was laughing, her head thrown back, a cascade of a dozen

icular, a shimmering piece draped ele

to the one lying

t even bothered to pick something out for me. He'd ju

colleague at Carlisle Enterprises I often consulted for information. I'd taken

e check something abou

lopedia of luxury brands and high-society

hat's Cynthia Ryan's new big deal! Her grandfather, Professor Julian Ryan, apparently pulled

y still. "L

wearing the signature scarf from the collection, and Alpha Kaleb even made a toast and publicl

he had praised her on, in front of the en

, my voice a strangled whi

up th

piece of silk. It was a symbol of his betrayal, a trophy from his vi

I walked to the grand stone fireplace that dominated the l

sitation, I tossed th

led instantly, turnin

there was noth

playing on his lips. He saw me sitting on the sofa in the dark and walked over

murmur, a tone of condescending affection he probably

gh so that his hands landed on the empty

lying face, and for the first t

ce flat and empty. "I d

He frowned, that familiar crea

top being

f his cologne, mingled with the faint, lingering scent of

id of all emotion. "I'll be sleepi