ila

e floor that echoed the hammering of my heart. I expected him to lead me to the grand sta

sharp left toward

he guest

a heavy oak door, and the roar

tate, a place shadowed by ancient ivy and hidden from the main driveway. The temperature plummeted,

d over the thunder, wrapp

g with a predatory luminescence. He crowded me against a stone pillar,

he growled, his voice vibrating in my chest. "Out

The lie tasted like ash. "I

"Your wolf didn't think it was a mistake. She

pacing excitedly, ignoring the c

wool over my shoulders, pulling the lapels together with a rough jerk. The scent of him-sandalwood, rain, and p

r me, I whispered,

ear. "The coward who lets his mistress parade around with his

He knew everything, and he w

ack beast of a vehicle idling in the shadows-a customized Range Rove

muted. Carter slid into the driver's seat, the sudden confinement making the air th

mbling in my lap. "The three hundred dollars. I

ached into his pocket and t

stud earring. My earring. The one I

your money, h

shot up my arm, making me gasp. He ignored my flinch, his thumb rubbing roughly over

ateral, Car

hand back. "Carter, you can't. J

him

as tight, but he didn't care about my comfort. He yanke

out, but it

My finger felt naked, a gh

s breast pocket. Then, he leaned across the center console. His face was inches from mine, his pupils blown w

's Co

ave him, he

amming into my psyche, wrapping around my will like chains.

oice returning to norma

ks clic

t the phantom heat of his command burned deeper than the cold. I stood on the gravel, clutchi

backward glance, the Alpha King drove into the