lott

up sc

ack of faceless wolves snapped at my heels. But the horror wasn't the teeth; i

if trying to force my heart back into rhythm. T

rate to scrub the feeling of dread from my body. When I walked

ng laugh. Glassy. Unfa

the corner

h cascading blonde hair and eyes the color of ice. She was wearing a silk robe that looked suspicio

next to her, staring at her as if she were t

mach churn. It was lilies. But underneath the perfume, ther

a

em vibrated with the magnetic pull that only Fated Mates shared. But Gabe... G

said, spotting me. Her s

s expression clouded over again. "Charlotte. This is.

voice flat. "Is that why she'

's feisty. You didn't tell me

dress with amused disdain. "I spilled coffee on my blous

f my chair

m went

s a guest of honor. She is the daughter of Alpha Nichols

y voice shaking but loud.

She walked over to me, invading my personal space. She rais

ger. It was gold, with a

amily ring. The one m

whispered, leaning in close so the others cou

I looked at him, pleading

d at his mother. He looked at Harp

on't cause a scene. Go to the kitchen a

r than a physical blow. "

an order!"

t hand crushing my shoulders, forcing my biology to submit agains

, clutching my st

womb. The Command was too str

Gabe, please... you

sed an eyebrow.

oice wavered slightly, his eyes flickering w

the dining room, tears streaming dow

e days, my life be

ated the living room. She fired the staff she didn't like. She thr

ind-Link Gab

ease, ta

oc

he's us

oc

d. A ghost in

g. I opened it to see my adoptive

them. "Thank the Goddess you're h

wearing a new diamond necklace that caught th

said, looking at his shoe

ught another woma

ut it was tight. "We met Harper. She

pped. "You

trong alliance. The Nicholsons are powerful. If Gabe mates with Harper,

?" I whispered. "I

ng. "We gave you a roof. We gave you food. Don't be ungrateful. Eleanor said if we sup

. For a council

ut," I

e, be rea

T O

e door and leaned against it, sliding down

quiet. I knew Gabe and Har

oom. I needed to know what she was. No

r clothes. Makeup. And then, hidden

crushed dried lavender, and something that smell

d. It was the scent. The

the

spell to mimic a Mate scent. It was forbidden m

s a paper. A medical rep

Harper

ility. Uterus dam

Eleanor just yesterday that she

en. And she

for som

came from

t the frame, holding a glass of wine. Ga

r. "Look! She's using magic! She's tric

She dropped her wine glass.

he scr

's arms, sobbing fake tears. "She broke into my room and tried to fo

ped forward. "Gabe

s tears. The spell she had woven around him was str

e growled. His eyes fla

he's l

shook. "You are jealous. You are

d!" I screamed, the truth fin

le

nd, clarity returned t

ping with venom. "A Wolfless can't carry an Alpha pup, Gabe. It

from Gabe's eyes, r

t," he

be.

" He lung

I ran. I ran out of the room, down the

the edge of the woods. I collapsed o

the baby. "Mama is here

The storm wasn't comi