INE

d the worst of the bruises on my arms and chest, but there was no hiding the swelling on m

ed with portraits of the Mathews lineage. Alphas and Lunas, smiling with cold,

father's study, blocking my path. His arms were

growled, his voice low and dan

he pain in my side was a sharp, insi

uising grip. "A wolfless stray doesn't get

the air from my lungs in a pained gasp. The world til

is face a mask of contempt. H

ched on the edges of my vision. I bit down on my lip, tasting the cop

my hair, yanking my head back until my neck strained. "Beg," he hiss

eyes, and a raw, defiant energy surged throug

ll you have?"

spark that

by pure, animalistic fury. He brought his kn

ck echoed in th

I kept my eyes locked on his. I would not look away. I would make him see what he had done. And in that searing torment, a strange, defiant

y door s

the scene-me crumpled against the wall, Brennen standing over me, brea

ice devoid of any emotion. "Don'

fted to me.

haul myself upright. Each movement was a fresh wave of torture. I shuffl

this room as his daughter. From now on, I

EB

sliced through the towering arched window, but it brought no warmth.

the endless, moon-drenched forest tha

wheelchair's armrest was

he center of the room. His loyalty was as sol

final message from Oakhaven. The bride they are

eliberate rhythm on the armrest. Tap. Tap. Tap.

goods. A last-minute insu

ly rasp, a sound that had lost its warmth long ago.

only... the rumors about Adaline Mcle

ed, the words tasting like ash. "Paired with a crippled Alpha." I could feel the b

g Alpha. They thought I was too broken to care, too desperate to object. They were half right. The woman

e room seemed to drop

st my knuckles. My gaze pierced the darkness, aimed eastward, towar

t, frozen

repare herself for her new life." I paused, the reflection of my

ant them. If she was as frail as they claimed, she wouldn't survive the first winter in my te