's

ords pressed against

e isolation. From now

n't letti

r mate-not really. This was about control. They wanted me close, not be

me like nothing before, I

if that made thing

eep breath, keeping my voic

d. "That's cute, sweetheart. But

"I do have a choic

his voice was quiet, firm. "We aren't

golden eyes burning into mi

haking my head. "Safe? Y

ghtened. "That

t you?" I snapped. "I was nothing to you befor

lue gaze met mine.

oked at me-like I was something p

I wanted to

t my wolf b

t forget. I w

houlders. "You're n

ked. "Oh, b

ising to my cheeks. "You ca

g-we're protecting you. You think we don't hate how we t

. "And wh

aded. "Because S

od ran

to get rid of you once. If we let you go, she'll try

heart pounding. "Tha

our problem, Ivy. Because you'r

eath

future Luna. She had manipulated the pack, twisted the tr

ed me, that f

m, my stomach twisti

le

e it official. Break the bond." My voice wavered, but I forced myself to

flickered with somet

d my jaw.

there was no humor in it. "You r

before," I

but firm. "That was before

t them, to tell them how cruel it wa

t to decide wh

my arms around myself. "I d

led slowly

pletely, his blue eyes unreadable.

ted

the ma

closeness, the way my wolf yearned for

ready f

't wan

e to Ronan. "Wh

en said, "You st

sted. "And if

n darkened. "Then

ard. "So I am

slightly, but h

eetheart. You can fight us all you want, but at the en

k the lump i

to get ou

ded a

I would p

d let them thin

never belo

time was righ

over my chest as I stared at the flickering flames in the fireplace. The ten

't a p

sn't fre

made th

staying

over and over, like a cruel reminde

room with an energy I couldn't ignore. They weren't speaking, but

woul

t

I would p

eded

ad to be careful. I had to

breaking the silence. His voice was smooth, t

him. "What do you

ething other than that death glare yo

expect? You took me from a cell

gainst the far wall, exhaled

im. "Oh? So I can walk

le

ed. "Ex

the armchairs near the window, final

lear I was nothing to you. And now, suddenly, you've changed your minds, and I'm supp

. "We never said we expected

ists. "Then wha

his golden eyes locking ont

morless laugh.

ression dar

hy do you even care

could speak, Kieran sighed dramatical

e on him. "Then

Not a chance,

dy was still weak from my time in the cell, my muscles sore,

d to be

d to be

ld sit here and let them cont