you remember

ed glass. She'd imagined this reunion for weeks-her daughter's wa

s. Neve

cute round eyes focused on them as she spoke her words, "

her tone cut deep

nt!" The words tore

family history-seven years of swallowing bitterness to pr

with complaint. "What's wrong with you? Au

ated nothing more than being reminded she

n the little girl's eyes. "No wonder Daddy li

final, crushing blow. So

shoulders, a desperate urgency seizin

needed to understand what had happened in her absen

me to dinner with Aunt Delilah

l me sooner?" Riana

who sent Aunt Delilah away in the first place. How could you b

rose within Riana. Her hands trembled, thre

la wrenched herself free. "You're being scar

zed her own daughter. She couldn't believe her child and her husb

eason. But Willa had already turned her back, a wa

to talk to y

e should both sleep." She reached over and flicked off the fairy lights. This wasn't the time for a conversation, an

oan escaped Wil

ing the words into Ria

ned hallway, the silence ech

against Wesley's indifference, Delilah's venom, the Pack's wh

any years, Willa's love for her was the o

her wise old eyes reflecting centuries of

the shower's steam enveloped her that she finally allowed the tears to fall, each

d she go

crificed e

e, for the sake

pack's heiress, to become

g herself into the perfect

the chasm between her and Wesley. That love,

votion. Wesley must have planned this. She never sh

n't returned. Of course. He was playing the carefree bachel

eavy in her hand. Sh

ss, no doubt," Riana said while getting d

back. Or face t

ent l

What i

. You, me, and Willa.

peared, then appeared again. "Cons

g to warm the cold spreading through her chest.

all

where. If I'm

a: F

day wishes from him this time

*

er chest that had little to do with sleep. She thought it must hav

ome. Not like Mystic Town, where the air smelled of pine and possi

r. She was going to make a perfect breakfast. Gift of Reconciliation. La

those negatives thought, not wanting to th

's door, she froze at th

ttle one?" Mrs. Leah's gentle tone was m

or her mother. "Daddy promised Aunt Delilah we'd go to the river th

your mother.

rapnel: "Daddy and I just like Aunt Delilah better. Sh

's Luna. Everyone says they were supposed t

sharp. "Willa! How ca

has a real job. Mommy just stays home, nagging me or doing boring

he air squeezed from her lungs as if by an invisi

t ye

rom the moment she'd felt t

tares and whispered slurs to g

lly monitored meal-born from desperate nights research

r entire world a

other side of that door, wishing f

ven faced Delilah yet, and already she'd lost. Just as Delilah'

as not he

hoose the silen

ture, her spine straightening into the regal pos

glorified nanny, then she woul

snarl in the oppressive silence of the mansion. She dialed h

rd I will be presiding

a secret known to only a