inn

r, stepping off the gangplank and onto familiar territory for the first time in three years. The air tasted diffe

im imme

a familiar anchor in a sea of strange faces. He looked older, the lines aro

hing at first, just wrapped me in a tight, fierce hug. I buried my face in the familiar scent o

p comfort of being with the one person in the world I trust

e murmured into my hair, h

ing a small smile.

ncts were still screaming. And there, half-hidden in the shadows of

ven up. They h

h, but I didn't let it show on my face.

owed with concern. "Let's get

seat, I risked one last glance toward the warehouse. Finn met my gaze for a fraction of a second

life, and we pulled

owan asked, his eyes o

familiar landscape of our territ

pulled out a small, dark glass vial, pressing it into my hand.

. It was my brother in a bottle-calm, steady, and healing. "Thank you." I took

tely under Gretchen's spell. And Ashleigh... she gets worse every day." He paused, lowering his voice

" I said

t? Aislinn, they're marrying you off to Garrett Carlisle. The

wan," I said, not offerin

st have stopped him. He saw the same stubborn reso

rother," I said soft

. He glanced at the screen, and his face immediately grew tense

What? How high is the fe

nn, I'm so sorry. A child at the medical center, he a

"Don't worry about me. I

the road leading to the pack's clinic. "Franklin will be waiting for you the

ve, wrought-iron gates of the Blair estate. The place I once c

assuring squeeze. "I'll be bac

edan speeding away, leaving

as bag at my feet. I was an outsider her

se, from the windows of the manor itself. I knew what waited for me inside.

e planned for me,

and old money. I straightened my shoulders,

come. I w