ony

owering figure of muscle and menace. The sheer force of his presen

, his handsome face carved from i

e still hadn't looked at me. I was a piece of fur

d with a cold, clinical contempt. "Her bloodline is weak. She w

r blow, designed to oblite

ug satisfaction. This was the proper order

e where he gripped his cane. He slammed it against the mar

t into tears, to protest weakly. That's what a wolfless outca

d, I l

er of air, but in the suffocating s

d snapped

in his eyes turning on me for the first time. He was conf

urious gaze without flinching. My pale violet eyes held his, and for the f

Carter," I said, my voice quiet but

y. I let my gaze sweep over the opulent room, the priceless art, th

hat I am unw

n, letting him process the sheer a

to a near whisper, yet each word as sharp

le

thundero

ace froze, then collapsed

, undiluted disbelief. No one had ever spoken to him like that. A k

on his forearms stood out like ropes. His Lycan instincts were screaming at him, a

ecstatic grin spread across his face. He was stunned, yes, but

o alarm. "Hamilton, stop!" he yelled, his voice cracking with urg

it. The Architect. W

with a single,

words, swallowing

rning, frustrated confusion. Who was I? Who was this wolfless girl that his grandfa

. I had made my

y back on

said, walking toward the grand entryw

d it open, not waiting for a

ter's eyes. And for the first time, I felt so

uming curiosity. And that, I