gh to leave an indent in the desk beneath. Avery Emerson signed with a sharp flourish acro

an envelope when the phone shatt

ce trembled, "you're needed

I'd woken up in a hospital bed with no memory of how I'd nearly b

eeped behind half-open doors, the scent of antisept

fr

ip stood vigil around the hospital

swaddled in white linens li

d the weight of a disappointed

heaved. "

Mother cut in, her fingers stroking Riley's

tal tears glistening just so. "Avery...I know I don'

adily. Too steady for s

, the one matching the wound that had nearly severed my femoral artery. Fiv

ack in my mother's arms

h-infested apartment in the human district. Malnourished. Sick." Her gr

d when she was exiled. It was Cain, Liam's wolf, who dominated it al

my every movement. His jaw worked as Riley let out a delica

cture, but isn't our mate bond and her betrayal enough f

should let go of my 'vengean

determine the n

hoped he would stand for me this time

right..." And th

ut a wr

k," I said slowly, "then I wa

yes flashed with triumph before she

bsurd," Fat

d?" Mother clutched Riley close

aze. "You know

ha energy making the air hu

never meant...that night in t

, this ends now. Riley has paid for her mistakes.

e scar on my

he first time she'd voluntarily touched me

s of searching, and she'd never once looked at me with half

ent coughs. Mother gasped, cradling her as th

s Riley was "stabil

curved, j

on, s

d out, the unsigned dissoluti

the viper back

, I won't