RA

mmand against my will. My hand started to li

problem, Alp

lery manager, a man I had bribed earlier that morning,

a temp. She has a terrible flu but insisted on working.

t he would press the issue. His focus was a physical weight, and the Command began to take hold again.

. "See that it doe

econd invitation. I fled the gallery, my lungs burning a

ecure, encrypted messaging app. I sent her everything on the flash

utes later. It wasn't

her voice a low growl of pure fury. "I

ind a cold, clear purpose. "I don't want revenge, Brenna. I don't want a fight. I jus

on the other end of the l

more sure of anyt

decisive tone of a Gamma, a military commander. "

thought. I did some digging into the pack apothecary records. Kaelen h

e a wolf during a rough change. In large doses, it suppressed o

ered, though I alre

felt too tired to go to a pack dinner? The headaches that made you sleep through the day? They'v

s' my mother always insisted I drink for my 'a

ft. It's supposed to be painful. They're going to drug me. They're going

t going to neglect me on my most important day. They were g

s in my heart solidifying into a diamond-hard pl

a declaration based on ancient pack law. It was an official, legally binding document stating my voluntary renunciation of my

remote, coastal town on another continent, a place with no known werewolf p

y details for the amusement park. As he spoke, a wave of giddy excitement washed over the frayed edges of my mate bond-my mother's pure, un

he quiet, steady ticking of a clock, coun