you won't tell

honesty cut through the roo

I don't eve

llenge, maybe, or an invitation. "One year, Lily. It's not forever. An

to their old life where things were small and safe. But she couldn'

she asked, hating how

need help managing pack social events. Research for my alpha train

me to be yo

" The correction came swift an

ly. "Partners don't

ut stepbrothers who sha

his shoulders, the calm certainty in his eyes. He'd thought t

ke ash in her mouth. "One y

. "You're not in a po

ine. "You need me to do this willingly, or it won't work. Our

expression she'd seen from him. It transformed his

list

a. Ever. She stays with me,

gre

al. Nothing that puts m

gre

mplete this year, the debt is paid. Forev

ices, their parents laughing downstairs, unpa

long time," Der

deal. Take it

her heart hammered against her ribs. She'd learned long ago tha

lpha. Top of the pack hierarchy. Someone who c

dn't make it

his hand. "One year. You help me, I prote

t had been covered in blood three years ago. The same ha

too

rushing. The moment their skin touched, something strange flickered thr

tionally, and his fingers tightened aroun

that?" Lil

hands into his pockets. For the first time, he looked uns

at b

eyes. "It's sealed now. You'll feel a pul

tied an invisible string between them, connecti

Lily asked, trying to

oward the door. "We're in the same grade, so we

e us together. The

e stepsiblings now. It's natural for me to show you around,

the door,

nt what I said. I don't want to hurt y

blackma

ek's shoulders tensed. "Someti

closing the door

of her new room. Luna whined and

ust agree to?"

mountains, painting the sky in shades of orange and red. In the forest

elt more trapp

k made

and happy. "Dinner's ready!

voice to sound

above the dresser. Her face was pale, he

k, smoothed her hair, and practiced a smil

murmured. "Time to pre

d tomato sauce filled the cabin. In the kitchen, Kane stood at the stove while

through his phone. He looked up when Lily

smile from before, and gesture

you a se

ut Lily sat down, Luna settlin

ringing over a big bowl of pasta. "Lily,

I will," Li

cts. Mom told embarrassing stories from Lily's childhood. Derek sat silent mostly, but

you tell Lily about the school? I'm sure s

ndred students total. Most of them are from the pack, but there are some humans too. The staff knows abo

proudly. "Captain of the lacrosse team, honor roll stude

e's not just blackmailing

Derek continued. "Introduce you to

ushed. "See, Lily? I told you De

She pushed pasta around

something brushed

is foot against hers deliberately, getting her attentio