yah

fine, powdery snow against the glass. The world had turned whi

evered thread still pulsed faintly between us, a tether he could follow to the ends of the earth. I had

for the first time in days. I was sitting with Faye, quietly discussing where I might lo

lite knock. It

's eyes were wide with fear. Who wou

r and pressed my e

my veins tu

as A

e face a thunderous mask of fury. His eyes, when they stared at the door, weren'

retend we weren't there. I backed away

d no patienc

Open this

le force that slammed into my mind. My body trembled, my muscles locking up in protest, but my feet began

bing my arm, but it was useless.

inging a blast of frigid air with him. He

is little tantrum?" he sna

s too strong. I met his furious gaze wit

said, my voice flat. "I a

ely destroyed and he had dismissed as nothing. He still thought I was the same meek girl who would eventually accept her place. Go back to the cabin. Wai

, nestled on a bed of black satin, was a diamond necklace so brilliant it seemed to s

magnanimous, insulting forgiveness. "I know Elara broke your necklace. I

ds, and a laugh bubbled up from m

kened. "What

laughing at you, Asher. Because even now, after everything, you still have absolutely no idea w

r of uncertainty crossed his

ger I had become. "I left because my brother was dying at your doorstep and you couldn't be bothered to walk down a flight of stairs. I left because you believed your lying bride-to-be over your own fated mate. I left because your

ut. "Your mother"-the word came out like a curse-"can take her generous offer of a cabin and an allowance and shove it down

use, to say he was just busy, that

d at Elara while my brother gasped for breath in my arms. It was realizing that the man I had loved since I was a child had already chosen someone else long before that night. It was un

re. I don't want your apologies. I don't want your diamonds. I don't want your cabin in the woods. I don't

he ugly, unspoken truth he had never expected me to confront. He had thought me too desperate, too in love, to

all the humiliation, all the heartbreak of t

lare my intention to reject you,

eir own. They were the first step in the f

he staggered back a step as if I had physically struck him. A gasp of pain escaped his

shock. He, the great Alpha heir, had never imagined that I, th

feel the silent, listening presence. I

t him hear. Let th

ne's prope