own. According to him, the pack bordering our lands, while far smaller, was starting to draw unwelcome attentio

f magic users-witches and warlocks-had reportedly settled in our area. According to pa

making him my Beta. After all, his grandfather

family's history. And then there was her. The girl.

passion for him. He was brilliant, without a doubt the bes

led, my patience wearing thin. "Five seconds is all i

time alone with each of them," Nolan replied.

won't change a thing. This ridiculous c

ho set this up," he replied, a rare, amused smil

chest. I'd been holding everything in for weeks, and I knew

. I'd fight without hesitation, ev

my authority? I'd pu

d be the first to step in, and I

s was what I we

inced she had a shot at becoming Luna... or worse, at a one-night stand. Some coveted power, othe

pportunists. They took what they need

f themselves. Maybe there had been exceptions... like my mother. Before everythin

as just a shadow of

. Perched by the window, her eyes vacant, unable to speak or respond. She sh

he day my father died. A betrayal orchestrat

I would never let anyone destroy my

ia's

familiar aroma washed over me: my Aunt Eve h

the second thing-my g

scented him long before I saw him. And as always, he would have found a way to use it against m

eminder. I already k

aven't chang

, the lie edged with an irony I didn't bot

line, perfectly aware I was fo

g full moon gatherings. And I've had yo

I'd already planned on w

ed him to show up with a

he occasion?" he asked, his ton

something I've

if I'd just said some

to come. You might meet your fated mate there, and that moment could decide your entire future. You need to be

tered, not bothering t

d that once I became an adult, he'd finally give up on his dream of marrying me off t

sistant to show me the

rprise, it was

ky

skin. The fabric, a soft silk, glided under my f

e from each side of the bodice, meeting at the shoulders before fanning out across my back in a complex, cri

istic structure. And because the top came up high

e dress looked like it was custom-made,

me a little taller, others slightly shorter. I topped out at five-foot-one. A difference that was