ai

ared for yest

ways our paths could have crossed again, it had to be the most awkward imaginable. An

s

e Moon Goddess I had the sense to t

She didn't even glance up as she wiped down a nearby table. "Although..." she added, her voice dipping into

. "Right. Because I've clearly been dreaming about getting propositioned like t

ed knowingl

e was a reason I couldn't s

But also a chance to change everything. He didn't even recognize me, and yet I had o

His leadership. His strategies. His confidence. I quietly absorbing the

seemed untouchable, had unknow

him show even a flicker of

r enough. Not valuable enough. If someone who claimed to love

one eve

e lightly accusing. I blinked, startled. Somehow

ha

ace. The one that says you're imagining

defensively. My cheeks burned as I adjus

when I felt the air shift

d... an

ri

ze pinned directly on me. His expression was unreadab

help yo

g, and it cut clean through my words.

e added, already sl

t me, like I was a puzzle he couldn't quite s

over and took the s

forearms on the table. "So, y

ed, but I co

eyes. "You're clearly exhausted, struggling to keep

over my skin, and a strange heat bloomed in my chest-part fe

"Let's not pretend you're

ade hi

member me, do you?

I? You're just a rogue. A pretty on

with arrogance, and I h

ong, Adrian, but it's still new. Barely a year old. A struct

aw tw

en what happens to young packs. Loyalty is earned,

es nar

that?" His voice turned cold. "You think you're offe

said quickly,

blink, just

ou operate. I pay attent

is expression didn't change,

that it?" he said with a dry laugh. "Makes se

ke being led in circles. I saw what you were trying to do-trying to imp

ned. "That wasn'

re biting than before. "You talk a lot for

ced deeper th

ir, frustration rolling off him in waves. "I thought

ike I was nothing. Lik

rly, I wa

ified as he turned and walke

refully built around him, the one of powe