Meadow

ing under the pressure. The knuckles of my free hand tu

ed to a conspiratorial whisper as he spoke back into the phone. "Ila, listen, I'm s

it was enough to douse the initial flare of my

oice barely a whisper, trembl

horne," he said, his voice tight. "She's... she's my brother's chosen

future Luna of th

ould command the Alpha's brother and expect to be obeyed without question. A woman who bel

ing like ash in my mouth. The last thing I want

you," Cole's voice softened, turning warm and intimate. It

es. They were everything. "I love you too," I w

rushed back in to fill the void. But this time, it was

ke it up

so tired, being ordered around by his future sister-in-l

urp

n't just a want anymore; it was a mission. I would go t

ely ignoring the buzz of my phone in my pocket. A quick glance

phone deepe

xture of excitement and nerves. I scanned the route map, my eyes finding the lin

y devouring a cinnamon roll from The Rolling Pin, the best

perfect. Simple, sweet, and

as doing this. For Cole. For us. I imagined the look on his face when I showed up, a warm cinnamon roll in hand. The thought was so wonderful it pushe

weet scent of cinnamon and sugar wrapping around me like

a comforting weight in my hands. Then, I was back on another bus, this one

ir dense canopy swallowing the sunlight. Deep within that

houette of the manor's pointed roofs against the sky. I t

my mind, a mix of her own ex

utching the paper bag a littl