lie'

pital's most exclusive textile shop. The fabric shimmered under the crystal chandeliers

waist. "Only the best for the woman who will stand beside me.

showered with gifts, standing beside the future Alpha King. Everyone in

r. The performance of sympathy was almost as delicious as the reality of her suffering. "Trapped up th

sinterest. "Enzo's a disgrace. A rabid dog who should've been pu

bloodline. Which meant he saw me as his true partner, the one who would help him consolidate power. When E

onster who has to endure her whining. A wolfless nothing, trying to survive an Alpha's wrat

ead Thorn girl makes our position stronger. Your family's loyalty will be rew

his arm. Galilea was as good as dead. Her ghost

he Winter Solstice was weeks away. By then, news of Galilea's tragic death

s going accor

lea'

n't s

rboard. The three Omega maids were still fast asleep in their adjoining quarters, the valerian root having done i

ad the funds. The Whisper Net was being wov

a decades-abandoned servant's passage. Wouldn't have helped a complete stranger escape a fortress without

s he,

me as if I mattered-none of it fit with the brutal, cold world of the Black Moon Pack.

find out w

would hav

ilence. I jerked upright, my heart hammering against my ribs. T

, forcing my voic

adable as ever. Behind him, two warrior women I'd never seen before flanked him li

enched. Somet

that seemed to shake the stones themselves, "requires your presence

against a wall and nearly crushed my throat on our wedding night. The man whose red,

ll at my sides. "Of course, Bet

and turned to leave. The

dded over his shoulder. "The Al

and I was alone

and apologetic, falling over themselves to prepare me. I endure

gged off in silver chains, screaming in agony. Now he was summoning me to breakfast as if nothing

. A message.

'd been cowed into submission. If I wo

nor had told me I was being sold. The same clarity I'd felt when I'd deman

d built an empire of whispers from nothing. I

adorned, the color of stone and submission. Perfect.

umber of guards at each intersection. The placement of windows. The echo of footsteps that cou

scent of roasted meat and woodsmoke drifted out, mingling with somet

nes was

, lifted my chin, and w

air awaited. An

anym