HAYE

k card. The storm had passed, and weak morning light filtered into my roo

hands shaking as I typed in a

de the air leave my l

l crest of the

wolf and one wolf only: the

ght... he was the legendary ruler of our pack? The one they sa

e card onto my small desk as if it were on fire, a hot coal of troubl

shrill, ugly sound tha

ondition has taken a turn for the worse. She needs surgery, an emergency

n dollars. The number was so vast, so

I spent the entire ride calling everyone I knew, begging, pleading for any amount, but

embling, I called my s

with annoyance. "Are you insane, Elara? Where am I su

voice cut in. "Unless you're willing to marry Rick Tuck

s Arthur's business partner, a brutal Alpha known fo

glass of the ICU, I saw my mother, Diana. She looked so small, so fragil

he only person in the world who had ev

ainst the cold, hard rectangl

nd. He was the Alpha King. A million do

act it." I closed my eyes, focusing all my energy, all my desperati

ergy was weak, but maybe a d

y hand sudden

? I clutched the card, my breath catching in my throat as I leaned against the wall, waiting. But as the seconds stre

an in an immaculate black suit a

d at hi

Mr. Kaelen Beaumont. Mr. Beaumo

trembled as I took it. A voice I would never fo

a millio

caping my lips. "Yes," I whispered, e

nd was terrifying. It stre

odded at me. "The hospital has been taken care of. The surgery wil

over me. "Thank you," I cried into the phone. "

t through my tears. "I

s no such thing as a free lunch in t

the line paused, the silence

tone leaving no room for

one slipped from my grasp

he Alpha King's meaning is that he wishes to proceed with a Mating Cere