ross the cabin's leather seats. Mira sat by the window, a glass of chi

ctly three hours

rom a

prepa

hannel rumor about Evren's temperament, his preferences, his rumored disdain for weak petiti

as forty-eig

not arrive

from an unknown number. Then

You shoul

ted. Then s

ty camera angle, poorly lit. Bu

ri

draped across a lounger beside him, wearing a white

mp read thr

it. "Client meetings in the coastal

ng sunscreen across her shoulders. Ivy tilted her head back, laughing at something

eo had

n't ne

dull, familiar ache, like pressing on a br

ache did

have given a mildly disappointing quarterly report. Then she close

hought flatly. 'He's

nto the plush seat. The hum of the engines vibrated

ll was a cath

alls. And everywhere-everywhere-the heavy, suffocating presence of Alphas. Dozens of the

ded doors and felt fifty pai

er mother's pearls at her throat, hair swept up in a simple knot. Luna elegance without Lu

wor

ompliments on her beauty. Questions about her pack. Curious glances at he

each one with

t I'm here on

don't wish to mon

ng, Alpha. Tonight, I

n they should, but Mira's cool politeness eve

he ar

kind of face that had never been told no often enough. His scent w

thout invitation. "The prettiest flower in the roo

ead. Polite. Distan

ct was i

ead for years. Adrian Vale swallowed that little empire whole." He laughed, loud enough to dr

"I am Mira Sterling. Daughter of William and Catherin

younger wolves, clearly his subordinates

s a ghost. Never comes out. Never produces an heir." His voice dropped, deliberately crue

ack l

nt cold, then h

er back. But never-never-in a room like this, surrounded by

said quietly, "that your manners a

ring. Go ahead-call your husband. Let him vouch for you. If y

heart c

know why she was here. He would drag her back

er hesitation.

along now, Miss Sterling. Th

her was quiet, but

his lapel. A silver wave on a field of blue. She knew that crest. She h

tern territories. A

, shallow morals, and an obsession w

politely this t

-surprised she knew his name. "I don't need my h

r around th

rowed. "What are

sters of Alphas. "Sterling family tradition. My father taught it to me. My grandfather taught i

om wen

ce reddened

"One round. The Sterling Lariat. You've heard of it, surely. A test of speed,

narrowed. "And

ce. I'll never use the Sterling name again. And I'll personally call Adrian

d in his eyes-greedy,

if I

le turned

oom and apologize. Not to me." She tilted her head. "To my mo