cted him. Announced visits were useless-staff smiled harder, managers hid

on a weeknight, half-listening to Miles read off complaint numb

seventeen," Miles said. "Two guest-care

sed one hand. Mil

t hair stuck to her neck. A red handprint on her cheek.

gh to see through. Bu

ack daughter wore like je

g herself toge

Killian, Ro

vening's business reports with his usual contempt. N

her, ]Ro

ha Killia

t who hu

t h

ator. Her steps were steady, but her toes were white

oved before he

doors. They opened

y in a way that made somet

ing they had signed the wrong contract, in rival Alphas when Rowan showed his teeth. This was not fear.

de her, careful to leave space. Rowan hated

ted. She had not

loor?" h

htee

the button. The elevator rose. Her scent reached him in fragments under soap, rain, and pa

nt utter

ust. With

did not need an Alpha filling a steel box with demands, even if every instinct in him wanted to t

n. She stepped out and than

hed until the hall

hrough the phone in his ear.

the female guest who just checked in. No one gives out her room number. If anyone asks for

ause. "Ye

anti-swelling crea

ore careful this time. "Do yo

r's polished wall. Cold eyes. Still face. The same face t

et staff de

lled through him

o me," Alpha

d him the Sterling Wolf. Some w

his father after a family challenge no one

Alphas expect

rogues and tried to murder three patrol guards in their slee

f standing over the traitor's body at the edge of Sterling territor

d him a chil

him ambitious. They called him unmated

e hotels, three resorts, and the most

ghters wrapped in silk and political con

ord. Alpha Killian

wrists stepped into his hotel, and control

himself. He did not as

d knocked once. Inside, silence. Then soft movem

esk had recorded on the welfare note and nothing more. "Sterling Hot

pa

y a crack. The chai

llian thought.

ag. In her right hand, half hidden by the

almost moved. "Also a good choice.

ickered in her eyes. Not amusement exactly

member,"

rs. Cream. Water. No charge

ds like co

ll make

bag. Her fingers brushed the back of his hand. Ice cold. Alpha Killian's wolf surged

you," s

sts before he could stop it. The marks wer

y, "and your wrists. Do you n

at once. "I had a fi

Alpha Killi

ut there was no humor in it.

version us

ntion landed fully on them. Eira Crawford did not. Exhausted, hurt, wrapped in a blanket

ling it,"

that handling something alone di

good lawyer." The words came ou

surprise. Recognition. "Thank you f

rse sh

d his head. "Then I h

ething almost like a smile

began t

Craw

pa

ber from my staff. If anyo

he guarded look in

ight,"

ck clicked. Then the ch

Behind that door was a married woman with bruises, a lawyer,

disa

the wo

hand tightened

wolf. Not unle

d not calm ei

and pressed the button for the top floor instead of the

continuing th

. His voice had returned to its usual coldness.

laints?" Miles aske

glowing number eighteen as

r n