, the snarl of the wolf, and the terrifying echo of Ryan's rejection were instantly muffl

floor mats. She was shivering violently, her teeth chattering so hard her jaw ached, but she

statue. He didn't look at her. He was typing on a slee

" he commanded, his voice

and sandy blonde hair glanced in the rearview mirror. This must be Lucas Walker.

lickered to Emily in the mirror, softening with

eyes locking onto Emily. Up close, they were even more unnerving

. "The estate is too

her calf from where the wolf's teeth had grazed her ankle, or perhaps from where she'd scraped it cl

whispered, her voice hoarse. "I'

a laugh, though there was no humor in it. "You ha

led out a crystal decanter and a glass. He poured

rin

y, her hand going to her stomach. The

o her face. A flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes; respect? annoyance? curiosi

o her. "Most humans would have tak

l and draining half the bottle in one go. The wate

"Most humans don't outr

r, his expensive suit straining slightly agains

s owned half the shipping lines on the West Coast, a massive chunk of the tech sector, and real estate holdings that rivaled

ire," she stated, s

replied enigmatically. "But

gut, reviving the fear that had begun to ebb. "

en in the spacious cabin. "It means you are under my protection. And prote

r voice trembling but firm. "If that's the pri

cut her off, his tone sharp. "Unlike the Al

cting a blow. Instead, she felt a warm, rough thumb brush away a smudge of dirt from her cheek.

r eyes," h

obe

ually sufficient punishment for an Alpha discarding a human. Sendin

to spill again. "He said a half-breed would stain his bloodline. He n

with more ambition than sense." He looked at Emily, his ga

d it an ab

, the temperature dropping a few degrees. "The only a

navigating the city streets. They were heading downt

," Lucas announce

was a sleek tower of black glass that seemed to absorb the light around it. There was no doorman,

brella, opening Emily's door.

ght landed on the injured foot. Before

as if she weighed nothing. He didn't look at her, staring stra

warmth of his body was seeping into her frozen s

r," Ethan deadpanned. "I'd prefer you d

ve for a row of staff standing in a perfect line. As Ethan enter

r," they murmu

t him. Master. Not '

traight to a private elevator. He pressed his palm a

beating steadily against her ear. It was slow, powerful. Thu

a motel room. It was vast, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking th

ing a bathroom the size of her old apartment. In the center stoo

hands lingering on her waist for a fractio

a first-aid kit in the cabinet for your

"Do not try to leave, Emily. The exits are DNA-lo