a's

nd Italian leather-reached me moment

m surprise to anger as he t

d, his amber eyes fixing on me acc

on her first. Why had I e

" she whimpered, tears instantly filling her eyes. "I was just trying

. "Is this true? Did

ay. Three years of marriage, and he s

sessions strewn across the lawn. "She threw my th

he surveyed the scene. "I'm sorry about yo

with her made

ntly. "Your brother's widow wants to sleep in ou

hand through his sandy hair. "V

rs still glistening in her eyes. "The guest room is just so cold,

as Lucius melted un

e murmured, placing a comforting hand on

lously. "Like what, Lucius? Moving your wi

flashing. "That's enough,

"I'm being cruel? That'

h barely concealed glee. She'd w

again. "Miranda, could you give us a mom

ing me a triumphant look b

is hard for you. But Miranda will be staying with us

. "I'll move my thing

then asked."What would you like in return? Some kin

The perfect opening

mload of clothing to reach into my pur

ce papers, watching hi

moothly. "The board needs your signature as my husb

was so simple. Without even looking at the papers,

nting to the signature

t what he was signing, Lucius scrawled his

eady turning back toward the

my bag, a weight lifting from my shoulde

what remained of my personal belongings,

a loveless

-

g to my biological clo

in the middle of my morning routine when the soun

e was tr

uld think a renovation cre

my long hair into a messy bun as I opened the door. The word

been removed, the oil paintings that once hung on the walls were gone, repla

r, hurried over when she saw m

iranda insisted on redecorating the house

ubbling inside me. My wolf would have been snarling i

e was an urgent territory patrol that wou

eassuring smile. "Don't worry,

a triumphant smile. She was dressed in a vibrant red dress, her honey-blonde hair perfect

st about to tell you that I've rearranged some thi

while inwardly plotting how to tea

when you're mistreated, yo

ic about redecorating, there's one thing

" she asked,

be left alone. That set is extremely valuabl

"Oh, I get it. It's your

malice gleamed in her eyes. "Don't w

suppress the slight smile that tugge

cal journals in my new room, I heard a sharp

anding in the middle of the tea room, a broken delicate

?" I asked, fe

iranda wanted to examine the tea set. I told her

errupted furiously. "I

at Martha. "Have you ca

t y

" I instruc

tain out of a molehill? Running to tattle to the main house? It's just

urprise. "That's former Luna Beth's roy

ter with uncertainty. "But you sa

er said that. I merely warned you t

nally realized she'd walked straight into a tra

id warn you, Miranda. Y

erything! You're finis

ah

ld confront me about this. It would