ali

ulders brushing mine without a single spark of our mate bond. He stopped at

his shoulder. Not at me, but at Martha, our elde

eavy, undeniable weight of an Alpha's Command. "D

to the floor. Adalynn shot me a triumphant, mocking smirk as the elevator doo

solid, impenetra

lf completely alone in a massive penthouse that reeked of cheap, synthetic r

the familiar sidewalks of the Upper East Side, my wolf's instincts guiding me, drawn blindly by the pure, sweet s

scents were worse. Even through the glass, my heightened senses picked up Caden's authoritative sandalwood, A

affection of a real mother. Beside them, my fated mate-the Alpha who swore to protect me-watched them with a so

her icy blue eyes flashing with agony and ra

one vibrated in

Adalynn had just posted a video. My

a selfie, framing herself and my daughter. "Tell ev

Mommy!" Elara chirped happily to the camera. "M

he background. He didn't correct her. Instead,

protection-keeping Elara away from potential allergens-had been twisted into cruelty, and my mate was en

The weeping, pathetic Luna di

longer intimidating me. I walked straight into Caden's study, th

the divorce papers I had drafted six months ago-a secret I h

d, mechanical precision, I struck through every clause I had previously fought for. I crossed out my de

ose. And even if I won, Elara would hate me for taking her away from her "magic" au

it up on the desk. A dir

e spotlight on your birthday.

illing, absolute void. I didn't type a reply. Instead, I pressed my thumb

wful pacing. The White Wolf settled into t