Alvar

ree of the decaying, suffocating scent of the Terrell Packhouse. For th

, practically vibrating with gossip. "Miss! I just came back from the central

g a calm sip of my

elry set for Darla's Luna ceremony, expecting to put it on your tab as usual. But the owner refused! He told her right in front of the other noblewomen that without the Alvarado signet ring

ppetizer. Without my gold to maintain their lavish facade, the hars

an to change into the

e." Instead, I put on a dignified, dark blue riding habit-the deep color of House Alvarado

lders. Embroidered in pure silver thread on the

hoebe, my voice resolut

rode my horse-a pure white steed my father

attention. The freezing morning air didn't stop the capi

dumped her the second he got back." "Look at her, show

as an arrow. I wanted everyone in this capital to see that even without the

a King's Palace loomed in the distanc

handing the re

"The Royal Palace is restricted ground. No unauthorized entry." Their voices were cold, thei

ng. "Harper Alvarado, sole heiress of the Northern Alvarado Pack. I have

the ancient, blood-forged ring, but their halberds did not

back and stood

he temperature plummeted. Icy winds whipped my cloak, and snowflakes as sharp as tiny blades slashed aga

izingly slowly. Two

d violently from exhaustion and the freezing temperature, but I refused to bend my knees. Behind me, the plaza gathered

a side door of the palace finally creaked open. A s

irs, looking down at me with a m

ud enough for the mocking crowd to hear. "His Majesty has reviewed your petition. However, he is curre

art s

on, "that he does not have the time to entertain the jealous tantrums of a domestic dispute. Al

king laughter rippled thr

warm blood finally spilled over my chin,

frowned, his Alpha aura pressi

with agonizing slowness, I dropped to one knee in the snow-not in def

calm. "I will kneel here in the snow, until His Majesty remembers my martyred father