na

And I certainly didn't degrade mysel

n the distressed leather couch, my back agai

ee and adrenaline, working by the glow of my laptop screen. I gathered evide

ed the pain meds from the pack clinic. I didn't trust any

here artifacts, jewels, and rare magical items were sold to raise ca

uins the aesthetic of perfection the O

a Guy w

cascading over the shoulders of a sharp, tailored suit that screamed old money and lethal power. She wa

id, her voice dropping to a sympathe

grimaced, shifting my wei

whispered, slipping a sma

strung with ancient, p

serious. "From a warrior ancestor.

felt strangely warm against my s

died down instantly, replaced b

ength black dress that concealed my cast, though th

ore a white gown that looked suspiciously like a wedding dress, practical

tightened, a muscle f

rble statues, ancient iron dagge

oneer unveiled

e Tear of the

hush fell o

cage of filigree silver. Legend said it enhanced the

to Emilio, placing a theatrical hand on her flat stomach. "Oh

at me, a smirk pl

said, pitching her voice to

ing the role of the provider. "No

paddle. "Fif

urmured in

funds I had painstakingly saved by renegotiating contracts and cutting costs

ed my

housand,

clear, cutting t

apped to

s flashing a dangerous

" Emilio countered

I said i

d!" Emilio roared, l

The "Future Luna" and the Alpha bidding agai

fifty thousand,

king his chair back.

ed my paddle again. "T

shouted, sweating pro

ake that stone and crush it to

ile card machine. I reached for my pay

uz

brated agai

nced

Obsidian. Transaction D

blood drained

voice slid into my mind via the link, dripping with malice. *

iting, shifting uncom

my voice shaking de

again. A hars

ned, m

ed, like snakes hi

's b

inally cu

mbarra

derous. "I'll pay for it." She whip

uz

phone, her eyes w

aggression against the Obsidian Pack,"* Emilio announced via *Mind-Link*

rs at the venue. He controlled

m with a slow, predatory grac

oothly to the crowd, slipping on his mask of benevolence.

d walked ove

the true hear

yden's neck. The blue diamond res

ed for his "generosity." They cheered for

on my crutches, stripped of my

ne, looking at me with

ainst my skin. "You are a wolf-less cripple, Elana.

ng, but I refused to let them fall. I

milio?" I whispered back, m

es nar

gs for your whore

s if he wanted to st

our back

applause for them sounded like rolling t

houlder like a vice. "I'm going to kill him,"

ing straight ahead

o take everything he has. His r

necklace Ayla gave

playing