a P

ilence of the study. I walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looki

her's

chronic illness wasn't natural. It was a slow-ac

ss, the memory of my mother wasting away, d

ng the stairs to my own room and hea

of White Pack Alphas and Lunas. I stopped before a painting of a young woman wi

her name was inscribed

able Coleman Pack, a family of warriors. Why had she become so frail? And why, wh

uzzle I was only now beginning to see. A vast consp

my senses, honing my connection to the wolf within. The

third brother, Domenic White, commandi

. It's m

ea? Little sister! Why are you usin

ineage Affirmation Ritual is in three days. You have to b

ned? Is it that bitch Elois? Has she

And Domenic... that's an order.* I used the same tone

by the authority in my voice. Then,

hing over me. Issuing a direct command

st the wall and made my

ve me a lazy, disrespectful curtsy. "Miss Alea. The Luna

rough my ve

d by a will they couldn't

of medicinal herbs hit me like a physical blow. T

llows, her face as pale as parchment. Her on

. This was what El

tered open. "Alea

and. It was cold as ice. The tears I'

Mama," I c

pe my cheek. "Silly girl, why ar

ing a smile. "No, Mam

de table. Elois's poison. A flicker of pure murder

uldn't afford

e. "Mama, trust me. Everything is going to be alrig

a flicker of something else. A flicker of hope. She sa

window. With one swift motion

ng the dust motes dancing in the air.

olve was forged into