IE'S

ation won't end her

voice.so calm, so certain kept ringing ceasele

he guests. Just him. Over and over

I clutched the shredded remains of my dress to my chest,

ation began to disperse slowly. I tried to stand

my tears, I looked up to see the waiter who had carried Carme

other reminder that no one cared, that I was in

tremors coursing through my body. Shock. Pain. Fear. Humiliat

ded down, soaking the jacket, drenching the scraps of fabric that still clung to my skin. My tears mixed with it, but I had no strength left to c

dding painfully in my chest. Slowly, I turned. There was Calhoun. Clutching the steering wheel, hi

am at him. Fuck you. Go to hell with your ride. But the words caught in my throat. Did they even matter anymore? My vision w

my soaked jacket, but I barely noticed. I was already broken. Already numb. My

re it, my soaked jacket clinging to me like a second skin, h

et into th

ighter than the cold rain pelting my skin. In the past, I would have panicked. I would hav

n wash over my face as I faced him, giving h

eed for me to enter your car right now? Don't waste your time, Alpha Calhoun.

tting each step pull me farther from him, from everything I had once beli

c, but I didn't look. I shouldn't have to. And just as I took another step, a hand clamped

fire, furious

erstandings everywhere. But I did what I had to! I didn't want to lose Carmela again. I've lost her once; I will never let that

ned, and I yanked my wrist from his grip, ignoring the sh

lt no shame? Left your mate to chase after a mistress? Why? Don't worry, Alpha Calhoun. I know m

He stepped forward, pointing at me, shouting, his

ou! I did what I had to out there to calm Carmela, or there

ding. The last thing I heard before everything went black was him calling my name

e window. I winced, trying to open them, only to be startled

gure, her shoulders shaking a

broken, her face crumplin

as M

look at you," she wept, clutching the bedrail as if her legs might give out.

e fever in my veins was playing tricks. "Mila?" I croak

g down her cheeks as she nodded

so violently that every rib ached. Pain lanced through my body with each breath, but I couldn't stop. Mila bent over

rough her own sobs. "I've got you, my

ment I landed back in the Pack,

t phony girl wrap him around her little finger, b

lips, though it felt li

itter as ash on my tongue. My l

. "I. we." The words wouldn't come,

now. As for us. there's nothing. We're do

ie." she

r tone

plump ass of yours? Alphas would drool. All you need to do is show the world you're single, unmated, and boom, watch the magic ha

lips at her silliness, just for a second, but the

y breath caught, but I kept my expression neutral, even as his gaze locked on Mi

anyone. Those men aren't worthy to breathe near her. They just want to fuck her and then dump her for thei

t people, and maybe.just maybe.she'll find her mate. Fate works in mysterious ways. And besides. why do you care? Why does it matter who she's

His voice snapped. "Don't you dare. Don't you ever try to force her into so

"Alpha Calhoun, do you need somethin

Mila muttered st

h, then stopped, swallowing whatever he'd wanted to say. When he finally spoke, his tone w

smile and nodded f

his chest and pushed him gently but firmly toward the door. "A

emorize every detail. But finally, he let himself be ushered out. Mila slammed the

nd him, El. I know he seems cold, even cruel sometimes, but deep do