lia'

emember st

g as though something inside me had been torn open. The next, my feet were under me, m

ticed imm

urse

ike a predator watching wounded prey-not with hunger, but with

leaving,

estion. It wasn'

a con

n," I said, before

surprised

brighter, and the pressure in the room shifted instantly. It fel

eplied calmly. T

rom the wall and took

iced th

invisible had snapped tight around my ribs. I gasped, my hand

re under h

wled. "Don't re

fear. "Like my body is betraying me? Like I'm losi

d, something raw flickered across h

it va

ddle of," he said, stepping closer despite himse

ghed weakly. "I ca

xactly th

pped around me like a storm cloud, dark and electric. I could smell

stirre

fear

iou

gri

n explain it to me," I said quietly. "You don't get to look at me like that,

I thought he might act

s if words were right there, bala

e door

Alp

ed out, soft b

fr

en f

g by his tailored suit-looked horrified the second the word left hi

e stammered. "

ph

n't made sense before. The pressure. The command in Lucien's voice. The way

lders went rigid, his posture snapping back int

t?" he ask

quickly. "They're all here. And.

de

mach d

und controlled but heavy. "Te

eft, shutting the do

ashed down

ears. "Alpha," I said softly. "Elders. Yo

e, sharp enough to cut.

it. Whatever you are-whatever th

id flatly.

he back of his chair. The movement was casual, but I could se

hy you're leaving,"

I don't?

pau

rately, he loo

n his face wasn'

calcu

" he said. "And liabilities d

tled in my ch

threat?"

a wa

he door, then stopped with his hand on the han

lia Vale," he said without looking at me. "W

ist

rled inside

e added quietly,

oor o

closed b

eart pounding, my thoughts spiraling.

my life felt

e, ignoring the curious glances from staff as I made my way to the

ion stared

de-eyed.

han the last. My chest still ached where the bond had f

pened to the lobby, I ne

hen my pho

fumbling in my bag b

wn Nu

sita

ans

el

h the line-smooth, confiden

"you're the girl who mad

od ran

you think I am,"

you are," she replied.

a

he phone. "I think you

. "No, Aurel

name like

I'd start running. Because once the e

pa

silence

uch thing as rej

all e

ing against my ribs. Around me, people moved, talked, lau

ph

o

a

that was

my wolf lifted its he

I understood something

adn't rejected me be

me because I w

ld had just