RA

ke a home and more like a beautifully dec

er unique wolf scent-a cloying mix of honey and nightshade that made my stomach churn. It was an int

of me I barely knew,

ice smooth as polished stone. He

body, my very soul, refused his touch. The mate bond, which

about the amusement park? Don't be childish, Elara. I'll buy you that d

forgiveness. He thought I w

red. Long day." I played the part he expected

it. He a

light streamed through the window, illuminating the path to his private study. The one door in the en

blocking our strength and healing. Whatever was behi

ribs. I took a shaky breath and typed in the numbers. My birthday. The day

8-

the silent hallway. The

or swu

-cedar and winter frost. I didn't turn on the light. I di

cked beneath a stack of financial reports, was a leath

happiness. The next was Kaelen holding a newborn baby. Page after page documented

, Seraphina, and little Leo. Standing beside them, smiling, were my parents. The Former Alpha

hey had been part of this l

top. It was password protected, of course. On a desp

s gra

ertificate, home videos of his first steps, his first words. Ano

ollars from the pack's public accounts. The money was being transfer

ce a secret life for my mate and hi

very file, every photo, every transaction record. I encrypted the drive with a complex series of ancient werewolf

my mind. It wasn't my own. It was a projection, a violation. Seraphi

y portrait with

s voice, dripping wi

of your place, little omega. You're just a conveni

term used for the weak, th

rief was gone. The hurt was gone. All that

? Fine. I'd show them what happens