ali

r to stop breathing. Her plum-colored velvet gown reeked of expensive musk-

sympathy. She reached out with manicured claws to touch my cheek, but

mask of mournful piety. Several castle servants and lingering guests slowed their

the Patterson pack's future. A warrior of his standing requires a Luna who can shift, run the borders, and breed strong Alp

rnered, helpless invalid. "Release him willingly? He shattered our anc

"The Ortega name has suffered enough shame today from your lack of a wolf. Do not make this pack a laughingstock by

y wanted legal absolution so they wouldn't have

ha suddenly gathered her heavy skirts, dropped to her knees, and sl

corridor erupted into hus

rformance of maternal desperation. "Spare my son! Do not hold a grudge against an ambitious boy! If so

brilliant sna

ative. To every bystander, I was no longer the betrayed victim-I w

is Alpha aura flaring in reprimand. "Making an elder kneel to you over a sev

. If I refused, I would be branded an unfilial monster, os

rgue. I di

fluttered my eyelids, and re

as I collapsed backward like a

er padded wool shawl. I kept my breathing shallow, my pulse thinned through del

g my shoulders. "You pushed her to the brink! If my lady dies, the Alpha King's

, his mouth opening and closing like a landed fish. Forcing an invalid into a life-thr

re?!" a furious roar

Vance into the wall. He glared down at Martha with feral disgust. "You sicke

a private pack matt

r entrails!" Issac snarled, baring his fangs as his A

on all fours, trembling un

f two loyal estate guards, lifted my limp body and rus

ammed shut and the iron bolt clic

pale weakness evaporated i

nd my throat, and walked steadily toward the mahogany desk in the corner. Pu

bound ledger stamped with th

ing thirty thousand gold coins borrowed under M

rcy. "Fetch Nellie. It's time the Patterson family learned what h