an'

d go after her. Smooth things over li

ound my wrist, yanking me back.

to talk to her before s

ke tell everyone you cheated? She won't. She loves

running a hand

o exhaustion for the Pack, enduring my mother's cruelty, raising Marcus without a

heard us talkin

eaming, crying, breaking things." Her fingers trailed down my arm. "Give her three days. She'll

wly. "I guess

s right."

erself. It was what drew me to her when we were teenagers, when she'd drag

Goddess herself. And I'd rejected that bond the moment I understo

ter the rejection, she'd felt no pain, still clinging to hope

rcus at her side so she could help shape him into a perfect heir. In front of her, I

'm tired of sneaking around like some dirty secret. Marcus deserves both his parents und

both women under one roof. But i

myself say. "Y

cus came barreling into my arms the second the door opened

id we get to sta

h blooming in my chest. This was how it was supp

iving room, chattering about the toys he wanted

e'd come home, see reason, and take

l asleep on the couch. Clara went up t

lock. Te

telling myself she was just being dramatic. Sulking s

t came

he hell

t, when I finally heard the

-

a's

astellano had run far

ldings, shipping contracts, mineral rights buried inside t

name looking foreign on paper that would soon make

dow. His stepson. Certain Alphas with financial stakes. The moment your identity becomes public, you'll have targets on yo

long as Silver Creek Pack believed I was theirs to use, they'd bleed me dry the insta

sappear before

night to slip home and pack. I

unhurried, as though the afternoo

toward the kitchen. "I did

mething to do with my hands than anything els

ps foll

His voice was

ly. "About yo

in, the one I'd grown to hate. "Clara's going to stay here as Marcus'

for you. Every meeting, every decision, every contract.

hed. "That's

what

someone to c

e glass down. "T

ed. "Exc

y home. I never agree

elped raise Marcus since the day

. Because she wa

want to keep Clara close, buy her an ap

lickered across

n't waver. "Her, or this arra

s care," he

t. No hesitat

d and brittle, a sound I b

Well, then. That

ri

Don't worry, I won't make a scene. Why would I? I was never re

cross his face. Uncertainty. A flash of t

his mout

p the stairs before h