eastern border ha

I should have been listening to his words, focusing on pack busines

, his silver gaze would sweep across the ro

red with sa

ncreasing patrols along the northern territory.

my dress ride up slightly. I saw the Alpha's eyes flick down, jus

o

ny questions

uestioned the Alp

his mee

e a qu

from the back o

tensed. What

ession darkened sli

address the situation wi

no. He wou

said coldly. "You betrayed your mate. Th

Fat

voice dropped to a growl that made everyone

with embarrassment and anger. Lucy stood beside

is voice rising. "She didn't ev

her sister!" someone s

ement rippled t

!" another vo

his massive frame radiating power and danger. "Jude, you will not make excuses for your actions

You call this lucky? I lost my m

thought of that befo

ssively and faced the pack again. "This

each other. I stood up slowly, making s

es met

Something dangerous and elect

ward his office, the crowd p

th. This was it. T

lway that led to his office, my

ey, w

e. Tha

Jude standing behind me,

y. "Don't say my name

talk to you. Five minute

N

ey, p

aid no

ms crossed over his broad chest.

n me and Hailey

re," Teddy replied. "You made sure

h anger. "This is none

a member of this pack. When you dis

atching the confrontation. I could see

I said, turning away from Ju

are you going?

led. It wasn't a kind smile. "Non

s burning into my back. Good.

s empty and quiet. My heart pounded

ly going t

in encourageme

What would I even say? "Hi, Alpha, I want

decide, the d

se, he was even more intimidating. Taller. Broader. The scent of h

name a rumble in his chest. "

ed. "You... knew I

d aside, gesturing into his off

room was large, dominated by a massive desk and floor-to-ceiling bookshel

d behind me wi

ere

uring to one of the leather

short my dress was, how ex

stead, he leaned against it, his

you here,

le, but loaded. I cho

said. "For what you said

ishonored his mate bond. He dishonored you

in his voice. Disgust,

d defend their son

hen added, "I'm sorry for what he did to you. No wolf should ever

y chest. I hadn't expected kindness from him. I'd expec

ine,"

ee the pain in your eyes

'll

studying me. "Or will she simp

aught. How

I've felt it, too. When my mate left, when she rejected our bond and disappeared,

o?" I asked, ge

se it. To become stronger beca

to pour himself a drink from a crystal

like one?

es

to me. Our fingers brushed, and I fel

s eyes flashed,

r next to mine instead of behind his desk, "y

pped. "What

y you've been looking at me all night." His silver eye

"I don't know what y

ct. "You want revenge on my son. I understand that. What I don

. He knew. He'd kn

arted, but he h

ant to seduce me. You want Jude to know that you've move

hamed, even. But I wasn't. Instead

lifting my chin. "That

a kind smile. It was

Let me be honest with you in return, Hailey. I've been watching

red against my

pped into place between you and Jude. Do

ears ago. The day before my ei

s," I said slowly. "In wol

saw you take down a deer twice your size. I saw your st

n the air between us

between you and my son. And I had to watch as you gave

gone rough,

d hating myself for wanting my son's mate. And now you come to me, off

een scared. I s

practically si

aid of you,"

cause if you start this, if you really want to play this game, I won't be gentle. I won't hold back. And when it'

aid, but my voice was shaky. "Th

a dark, kn

" He stood up, towering over me. "You're attracted to me. You have be

m n

away. Arousal has a ve

body. Oh, Goddess. Coul

e dropping to a purr. "I'm aroused, too.

w it was supposed to go. I was supposed to be in

I was the one

I said, stand

ocked my path to the door. "I

not like

nearly touching mine. "That's the problem with revenge, Hailey

want to g

y mouth before I

silver-his wolf

what you wish f

side, clearing th

use if you come to me again, if you knock on this door o

not trusti

aky legs. Just as I reache

ile

urn

ry good on you. Wear

fl