ce

stair, describing how she had gone looking for me, full of motherly concern, only to find the guest room do

sted cripple, ostracized by the family, who had t

eyes with a lace handkerchief. "Our sweet Grace would never... And

s staff on the floor ag

ze shifted, pinning Constantine in place. "Constan

dable pools of grey. He glanced at Eleanor, then at the p

and steady, without a trace of fear.

he onlookers. His words were a conf

s wide with disbelief. He stared

's eyes before she masked it with a fresh wav

nd Constantine's father, the former Alpha, had been riva

laced with fury. "You admit to drugging a

n. "Elder, according to the ancient laws of the Pack, what is the prescrib

lly, the law ingrained in him. "They are to be bonded immediatel

intention. I am formally requesting that you, as the highest auth

ck! He is trying to escape his punishment! He defil

k in the silent hall. It was the jo

had never wanted me as a daughter-

r what she w

nnounced. He addressed me directly, his voice a little

d seal Constantine's fate. I saw Eleanor's eyes na

uth. But my throat was raw, my body still we

spoke again, his voice a low rumble beneath my ear

is clearly not in her right mind. Anything she says now could be dismissed as t

he weight of his wor

strange, solemn finality. "I was the aggressor. It was my doing. And now, I

s he confirming their lies? He was a victim in this too, a pawn in E