sleeping. Kael was downstairs on the couch. He says he stays downstairs. Then I

first. Low rumbl

g. And a ban

. Two trucks at the border fence. Lights bright. Jonah's logo on the side. The

en. Cr

ks, green dress pulled on over t-sh

ing on boots, no socks, shirt

aid. Alpha voice bu

ere because of me. Becau

me, heavy loo

," he said. "Not ins

k

now, sticking to my green dress, to my wa

saw us. One was Jace. Buz

ere. Of course.

me. Big back, scars under shirt

it carried in cold. "You cross at 1

to get what's ours. Alpha Jonah said

. "She walked out after your Alpha left h

d at me be

d if you come back now he'll forget Council t

home.

d Kael a little. So they

ow in mouth. "I'm not property. I'm not spare change. Tell Jona

nster cares? Everyone knows what he is.

ext second he had Jace by jacket, lifted off snowy ground a l

quiet. Dangerous quiet. "Say propert

ryone whispers about. R

Kael's arm. The

I said.

m shaking under my hand.

red, snow on my eyelashe

heavy hungry look but al

not throwing either. Jace stum

n. My roof, my border, my pack. If he sends kids with crowbars at 1 AM ag

ping over us, over my soaked green dress, ove

ights gone. Quiet no

ough. Freezing. Teeth cl

. Wanting to hit something

g," he said, sa

I lied, te

nees and back, like I weighed nothing, like my tw

me on couch and knelt and pulled off s

said, almost ang

re," I whispered. "Y

ing blanket, wrapping my feet tig

with both cold ha

"You could have. Everyone says you

my cold hands

" he said simple. "You s

. That was

whisper monster who doesn't blink

mouth. Snow melting in his hai

my cold hands, careful of

forehead against mi

confession. "Because of you. Because I did

weak?"

rse. I'm something els

said 1:49 AM now. Feet wa

wife he gave away became the Alpha's only wea

nally learning how not to rip throats when he could. B

im send trucks and kids with crow

in mud

blankets and buys socks and asks bef

ike I'm only thing k

t in snow,

only thing ke

topped