oria

is voice taking on that patronizing tone I'd grown to despise. "Darli

gnif

ife reduced to a single, dismissive word. Nora stirred restlessly beneath my skin, her fury matching my o

University rejected his application? Who had spent countless sleepless nights editing his research papers, watching him take credit fo

shred of composure I had left. How dare he. How dare he reduce everyt

eting other people's partners. First stalking us to that restaurant, now showing up a

state had been hosting galas here for generations-but somehow I was the intruder. The sheer audac

turning toward us, their whispers crea

raction of the humiliat

s interested in

slap at the restaurant teach you any manners? Or was I too merciful when I c

she's dealing with. L

d, her carefully composed facade finally cracking like

cy, his expression professionally neutral. "Miss, t

same invitation that bore the Lancaster family crest-when a warm hand settled on

est. Is ther

mi

nd us shifted, gr

y was Ethan's

er she looked devastate

eryone see what kind

her composure cracking further. "

s. Sterling Senior someone who climbed up from being a mistress herself? Even managed to get her illegitima

trike. He understood pack politics and family shame better than

down my spine that had nothing to do with the evening air. "This is the sec

nt heat flooding through me, and I fought to keep my expression neutral. "I don't

ted against my ear, ri

a firm hand wrap around my waist. Before I could rea

I hissed, trying to pull away

mured against my ear, his voice carrying that authoritati

a nearby powder room. The heavy door clicked shut behin

in. One hand braced against the wood beside my head while the other settled pos

nded breathier than I intended. Being this close t

thly, his alpha authority bleeding throu

end of cedar and midnight roses-surrounding me completely. Even through my carefully suppressed wolf se

at. He moved with predatory grace, closing the distance between us until

voice sound

low breath I took, could see the golden flecks in his da

vibrated through me. "That's a strong accusation fo

e pulled away, could have made a scene, could have refus

ptation given form. When he leaned closer, I caught the hint of mint on his breath, felt the whisper

tively, I raised my hand to cover my lips, my heart hammer

ing sensation of his teeth grazing my throat-not quite a claiming bite, but close enough to make every nerve ending in m

ush him away with more force than necessary. The contac

on my neck. I pressed my fingers against it, rubbing frantically,

sed to face an

momentarily speechless. His eyes had taken on an al

raid Ethan will g

t back, lifting my chin in challenge. "

s, his smile turning dangerous and predatory. "In t

you mea

my vision, his hands framing my face with