hard floor. I blink through the pain and confusion, expecting to see those icy blue ey

I escape from his hold. I

hough firm, is surprisingly gentle. His dark hair falls slightly over his forehead, and there's a

his voice calm yet filled with auth

's slap. "Thank you," I whisper, still feeling confused. Who is

don standing off to the side, watching. His icy gaze is colder than I remember, but there's somet

s muscular frame, the deadly aura in the way he carries himself. He's everything I should fear, and yet, despite myself, I find my e

ment, I'm lost in him, until a

g from every word. Her eyes narrow into slits as she glares at me, her anger renewe

slice through me. I open my mouth to defend myself, but no words come

through the tense air like a bla

slightly and I turn to s

s I'm led out of the room, I risk one last glance behind me

her hair. His expression, so cold and distant with me, is now soft, tender. He lea

th anger. How could he be so cold to me,

beside me guides me toward the long, winding halls. The image of Alpha Sh

ension from the throne room still lingers in the pit of my stomach. I sneak a glance at him, trying to figure out who he is. He's

breaks the silence. "I'm Lucian,"

the Alpha's home, but it also raises more questions.

es cautioun in his voice. "I'm sorry for what happened back there. Th

per, my voice hoarse from

e Alpha. For years now. It's no secret in the pack, and it's a source of frustration for her. She sees

esn't want to say the words, but they

for the one thing she couldn't give him. My purpose was to provide the Alpha with heirs, som

reat to her," I murmur,

something else I can't place a finger on. "It does

ght of his words pressing down on me. I

get out of

e wants. If he doesn't reject me, them

ant, I'll be tied to this place forever, tied to him. I have to

Alpha his breeder is unheard of, a rebellion that could co