rawfor

nd watched the celebratory bonfires b

. I faced the mirror and looked at the pale woman s

e Blackwood Pack. Even if my mate had b

r into a tight, perfect bun at the nape of my neck. I us

. The mess from last night's aborted celebration was g

. He hadn't slept either; the dark stubble on his jaw told me that

but I walked past him without

lk." His Alpha comma

letely. Instead, I focused my will, building an icy wall around his voice in my head.

rise. He felt my mental barrier. A flas

shed table, Julianne was already seated. In

e arranged in a perfect, humble smile. "G

I turned to the servant standing nearby. "Mov

ced at me, then at Jaxson, who had just walke

tly, a perfect picture of wounded innocence. "I... I

ctive hand on her shoulder. He glared at m

esumes to call me 'sister'," I stated calmly, m

ing. A stern, female voice cut through the t

second only to her son's, stepped out from a side hall. She wore an immaculate dress suit, her expression sever

he deferred to his mother. "

at is not an overreaction," Eleanor said, her voice quiet but filled with indispu

t pale. She looked

gave a sharp nod to the servant, who scurried to do as I'd asked

fast with practiced elegance, as if nothing had happened.

silence. I dabbed my lips wi

axson tried the mind-link again, a n

ut didn't

distant, distorted mumble in my head. Then I walke

it, there was something else... conf

I pushed the door open, I stopped. Jaxson had already had people move Julianne's luggage i

was letting her invade the space meant for my