pte

d over to me. Without a word, she reached out and unclasped the

xposed. "Wasn't that supposed

ose to the moonset, we cannot risk any uniquely disce

the folds of her dress. Even Xavier's steady presence couldn't entirely quell the quie

m the leather couch where he'd been observing us. H

d mildly, pouring

e composure I still clung to. Xavier's mouth lifted sligh

e scene. Xavier crossed over and opened the door to reveal the handsome

red on his handsome face, “My friend

preamble. His usual easygoing charm had vanish

iefly between Marcus and me with a f

ou." Marcus dragged a hand roughly through his ink black hair. "We b

egan to furiously pace. Xavier however had gone still, his powe

g to ask, “So who exactl

ier who nodded. "Celeste comes from an influential and pure-bred wolf bloodli

t up here, she'll investigate swiftly and violen

strand of my long auburn hair. So this mysterious Celeste posed a real t

m. “You shouldn’t have had to learn the most viciou

oming here now, too,” I admitted, voice small. “Not because you

y at my confession. "Your intentions were good at l

ck recently. When she disappeared tonight, I just assumed that she had a boyfriend that beat her up.

don’t be too harsh towards yourself” Natasha finished, a tinge of unexpe

e an immediate crisis.” He turned to Xavier, frustration etched across his brow. “Celeste explicitly told me

aim over him, and yet the thought of another woman expecting to share his bed tonight sent an unexpected swell of h

ions. Ashley practically fell inside, emerald eyes enormous with pa

ion rolling off him in waves. “I should never have waved Serena in

did you allow a human into a restricted

she belonged. I caught a scent that reminded me of something from long ago.” He sho

glancing my way. “Have you any wolf bloo

“None that I know of. This

rds, there’s more to your presence here tonight

going to do?”

tantly. “Slow down. Tell m

angely. Then she demanded to know why I smelled like a human.” Ashley covered her face miserab

” Natasha excla

exchanging an uneasy look with Marcus. The air hung heavy with t

bit out. “Celeste will be suspiciou

ed with mine across the room, rage and resignation warring

leste I will be

ered her face with both hands, shoulde

way. "You did well," he soothed. "Celeste force

ge. His stormy eyes swirled darkly as he looked down at me. Slowly he reached out and took my hands in

vier's voice dropped lower, etched with regret. "But Celeste is the most volatile and ruthless enemy

istracting patterns over

it means all-out fighting between packs." His other hand touch

brewing anger. "I promise, she'll regr

ed by the lethal edge in his voice. T

I replied. "We've made her more suspic

ts ancient werewolf rules, even with her cruelty." His thumb brus

ed. Celeste might back off if she th

e was ready to convince her of exa

g sharply. "You'd go that far to protect this

even as Ashley made a soft

won't accept a fake relationship without proof." His eyes flashed. "Sh

cheeks flamed crimson but I remain

or girl in truth? Just to keep up a ruse?"

ecessary tonight." His head lifted proudly. "Even if that requires making her my mate in Ce

ided by the blunt conversati

ct. In the fraught silence, Xavier finally met my wide-eyed star

her we proceed with this ploy, or you risk facing Celeste's letha

to Xavier in truth, or gamble my fragile human life on the whims of

jaw set. There was no escape from this harsh reality he spelled out plainly between us—submit fully to his inti

er and confusing inside me as we stared at one a

rides. He captured my chilled hands inside his blazing hot ones, the evide

rapped around the ragged edges of my composure. He squeezed gently when I flinched. "Nor w

ely now, reading the sincerity etche

e, even if by force alone." Tempered steel laced his words now. "But this path offers the s

dark hair with one large hand. "There are means for us to carry t

hrough me even as angry confusion stained

w. "The intimate link would linger for some hours, long enou

lly, pulse racing at his overwhelming nearness. There were still so many uncertainties about

motion, I turned my gaze to Ashley trembling silently nearby. Her tear st

o life, refusing to subject them to further distress on my behalf. "I don't wis

rs welling up in her eyes. But she

he started, v

"I'll manage this somehow. K

silently out, arm wrapped firmly around her shoulders. Ashley kept her eyes lo

alone, the silence suddenly deafening. I could hear my fra

now?" I aske

o make it through this night unharmed." He pulled a ring out of the drawer and put it in his middle

e another over the heavy silence now enveloping us like a shroud. Whatev

"You've trusted me this far to shield you, Serena.

l dawn now depended on just how much power I let this formidable creature wield

I said