ana

guard posted outside my door. My meals were left on a tray, untouched. Hope wa

me as a burden or a bargaining chip. He had spent months in Crescent Falls Central Hospital, kept alive by machi

ather stepped inside, his express

" I asked, my voic

ttempting a paternal tone that made my s

the Pack's financial troubles, about th

ter laugh. "So you sell

married. The Royal Pack has already been in contact. Th

I said, each wo

ping to a venomous whisper. "Do y

the blow he had been saving. "Noah's treatments are quite

ts way up my spine. I

ontgomery Industries. All it would take is one word from me, or better yet, one w

"You're threatening me," I whispered,

stating a fact. You marry, Noah gets the best care money can buy. Y

ge of love I held for the man I called Fathe

s a m

my brother, my precious N

like a black hole had opened in my chest. I looked at him, at this strange

d them again, they were dry an

voice a dead monoto

face. He had won. He stood up, ready to l

, cold and sharp as a shard of g

victory while

icker of annoya

ughter," I said, my voice low and stea

uth ti

ke sure that bargain costs you everything. Every alliance you begged for, every business you crawled to protect, eve

ees, when Rebecca has nothing left to scheme with and Isabelle has no throne left to steal, I want you

hat I saw him flinch. A flicker of fear crossed his