IA

skin, sending shivers up my spine that had nothing to do with temperature. The room was steeped in sil

eading the subtle shifts in her expression before she even opened her mouth. I bit down o

ant her eyes li

elle pierced the tension like sunlight

a smudge of black, white and gray that held no meaning to my inexperienced ey

, hands shooting up to cove

ped my shoulder.

y shoulders against her, wailing with relief and joy I had never known befo

 spilled out before I could catch

lly warming, that signature scowl softening int

in my head whispered

g, a Blood Hound and a Black Moon wolf. Once ancient enemies thrust into

had

omach and grabbing my clothes. I texted Denver: I need

ulse-pounding heart. The sight of Denver's slick black car out front filled me with nerv

low. Denver hunched in the darkened living room, his b

. "I didn't realize you

ut only after I cook you your favorite-" The

d my name - flat, detached, cl

asked them, eager to take

y. "I received your text, and I h

herwise. After two years of marriage - contract or no contract - I'd learned

e end of

ispered. "

ot." "I'm afraid I won't be able to keep this

owning out all stimuli save for three words re

ver plopped a sheaf of papers on

haven't been able to give a child.." His voice became white noise as I focuse

universe-blessing me with my miracle the 

gain, strangled

n of the man who'd saved me, who'd been tender our wedding night. But

ver," h

." The words came out, o

nd?! His voice boomed in the r

e you two years of my life, and what do you give me, Eliana? You know this isn't working; truth is tha

came out unbidden-an ugly truth I

 laugh that echoed from the

al said. I've been quite clear a

blurted, my

as barely suppressed rage. "Well, I don't love you!" he yelled, the words echoing in my to

ve you. I n

bullets right t

?" The question came o

dangerously. "T

ed into a pond: "I, Alpha Malik Denver, do hereby refu

 night-disintegrated. A physical pain shot through my chest, taking my breath

g into me, demanding the 

your rejection. My whisper

rs earlier. Or maybe this was the true Denver all along and I'd ju

the tearstained sheet. "You have got until tomorrow to sign. Make a plan for 

e door. "And other than that, I hav

d boreal pine, power and disinterest. Then I heard it - his de

with his arms wrapped around another woman - tall, blonde, perfect. Everything I wasn't. Her scant outfit

he purred, twining he

s they walked toward the stairs, he glanced back - just for an instan

imply di

strand of delusion. I envisioned a future where this baby, Denve

he father I wanted for my child. And what if he knew about the pregnancy? A chill ran through

erve to know. He

ned his, tears fogging my vision but not my resolve. This was real

n mine in any real sense. Every possession, every moment - all borrowed, fleeting. I could

n the table next to the signed papers. A quee

toward my flat stomach. My heart was broken, but my mission was clear. I was going to star

hrough my hair. I had gone into that house with hope flowering in my chest;

ver's secret heir, a truth

would e

o