ora

tate. The Alpha's wing was not a home; it was a fortress. Dark stone walls, e

elders and agitated family members at the door. It was m

silk and beadwork felt like an oppressive weight, and shedding it was a relief. T

awkward, her eyes downcast, her hands trembling slightly. Willa was the same.

t had opened between us in the span of a few ho

softer than I intended. "I'd

rrowed with genuine concern.

g smile. "I'm fine, Willa. B

she bowed her head and left, cl

ould use from the words laid out before me. Then a strange maid, one I could tell from her arrogant scent was a se

e." She showed no respect, not

s lukewarm. A petty, deliberate insult. A test to see whether

d ne

crossed her arms, a smug smile t

her, tilting the cup. The dark liquid splashed straight on

jumped back. "A

s purr. "Boil a fresh pot. If it isn't scalding hot when you bring it b

ear. She looked into my eyes and realized I was not bluffing

t o

realization dawning on me. It seemed that in this fa

round the vast study, thick with the oppressive atmosphere of

erely a girl aband

e castle. I was the Alpha's ma

told myself. "This is just

move carefully. The people of this pack, those who star

sity about me, but in the end, he saw me as a to

ze ha

has it

surveying my new domain. My gaze fell upon the ma

ion. It had to be fortified. And it had to be done ton

nto the room, bringing the cold night air with him. He stop

rning a hunting knife I had fou

us. He unbuttoned his cuffs, and his Alpha presence surged

m the blade. "I'm ad

he leaned over me. "Do not mistake my tolerance for weakness, Aurora. Yo

p, meeting his fur

you just a man pretending that