Hayes

ess of a Luna's suite and more of a glorified storage unit. Stripped

est. In the cracked mirror above the dresser, a pale, gaunt reflection stared back-dull brown hair plastered to my cheeks,

attress in the dark, letting the thunder shake the windowpanes whil

he door before it swung

of expensive bourbon and rain-soaked cedar. He flicked t

obsidian ones I bought, but heirloom platinum. His handsome face was clouded w

said, his Alpha comman

in my lap, staring stra

hment quickly returned. He reached inside his tailored suit jacket, pulled out a thick l

asked, though my

, as if presenting quarterly earnings to the Thornton board.

my lungs. I forced myself to look up, meeting those impenetrable gray eyes. I se

ise required time to prepare for her ascension as Luna without being targeted

as a meat shield. A pawn deployed to take

sounded like dry lea

ve yielded. The pat

ed my lips, echoing sh

w pinched. "

. "I actually believed the Moon Goddess paired souls for a reason. I for

his formal Rejection and signing a lifelong non-disclosure covenant, the Thornton Pack would grant me an eight-figure tru

ackage for a

on my stolen youth

eal was already stamped in crimson wax, leav

n the table. Just as the nib ho

mediate suspicion. "If the financial terms are insuffi

nd pity for the man who believed everythi

I said evenly. "I only have one que

Elders-a mutual verbal renunciation that tore the spiritual thread linking two s

l Chambers," he answered without missi

pressed the pen to the paper and signed my

older back acr

" I said, my voice steady, clear, and utt

e total absence of tears, screams, or begging. He picked up the folder, linge

s gaze, u

ared into the corridor, his foots