el

arrived. Her lips parted, and a sound escaped her throat, something between a warning and a whimper. Her fingers twitched against the ben

her against the backrest. "It's alright, Aniyah," I murmur

The weak, crying Omega vanished. I faced Dam

clear and steady. "Do you really

eyes widen almost imperceptibly. A

aid simply

ied. "Then let

he battle of wills unfolding over her unconscious form. Damo

ir sh

ders like a lead mantle. Then it hit full force. Damon's Alpha aura rolled through

-as though even unconscious, she felt the crushing weight of his authority. Even the leaves

ely a ghost-cowered somewhere deep inside me,

idn

dug crescents into my palms, drawing blood I could smell beneath the

d his

d. The pressure intensifi

me in short, ragged gasps. But I stood, teeth

le, yet steady as stone. "But then you'll never learn

le

anished. Just like that. I sucked in air

amusement returned, sharper now, ed

sp

he said quietly. "You have

sa

aying out my terms. "You forget you ever saw me or my attenda

e worth my silence?" he asked, a

ice so only he could hear. "Info

t time, the calm mask cracked. His pupils contracted,

es and assassins that moved through the packs like a plague

hunting them for years, convinced they were

he growled, the soun

used, letting the silence stretch, letting him hunger for it. The

controlled The Veil, his power was far greater, far more insidious than anyone knew. It explained everything-ho

d, his voice tight

tion the down payment on our deal. You keep my secret

could see it. I nee

free from beneath my dress. It was a small, unassuming charm in the shape o

list of his, a man who had died trying to protect me in my last life. H

alliance. Accept it, and our deal is made. You gain

my face. He saw me then, not as a weak Omega, but as what I was: a strat

a risk, but the reward w

ached

n't take t

over mine, engulfing my cold finger