a's

d of you," Riona said with a smil

her to watch me while he dealt with the matter he had mentioned earlier. Apparently, see

d I didn't question him. Asking didn't fe

oman who came before you," Riona adde

repeated as the juice nea

his contract

red wit

't believe you we

too much of my attention. Up to this point, he had done nothing except hold me close while we slept. His hands hadn

what would happen pressed down on me more heavily than the tr

who lasts," Riona said as she

ne who

ong with how freely she talked in my presence. I

w in a sl

My brother has spent years searching for his mate. He's twenty-eight now, and he still has no heir.

her words, making the whole t

use they failed to

ook her head. "They died bec

ell me any of th

might end the same way

hes you in a way he never watched those ot

fort. My unusual scent had always

if he ever finds his true m

e had charged into the cellar, shouted his rejection, and beaten me until terrible pain

you?" Riona asked. "Your expression

d. "He wanted noth

e me feel as though someone had torn my heart from my chest. Since I had still managed to sense that connection, my br

e moment he discovered which pack I belonged to and learned my brother's identity, he r

the women who came before me have made me feel fortunate? His interest mi

k had apparently told her to keep me in sight unless I went to the bathroom. Perh

e when I barely had en

me checking the supplies. A hospital seemed almost unnecessary

ile. "I still have plenty of work left, so I found

agazines on the

the people in the pictures looked familiar, and every word

es?" she asked with her

d. Admitting the real reas

me with narrowed eyes as though several

now how to r

given m

my cheeks as I sil

ou never attende

N

shame. What twenty-two-year-old w

brothe

N

e appeared

hing better to do than spe

air beside me and started

ent over each lesson again, returned to the beginning, and kept trying different explanations whenever I becam

er just r

uld you

ng pack membe

assed before the dou

the floor. Fury covered his face. His crimson eyes looked darker than they norma

need to talk to my

e," she m

ked out and left

ed me. My eyes automatically lowered toward the fl

Toren tak

ha

ask yo

I wanted to explain tha

ted, Nerya. Every la

s stare presse

. How could an entire

o was the pack house. Tell

d, I moved my head

ther?" I murmured without findi

while pointing toward me. "Did Toren send you

ed to fill the

ot seeing the strike before it landed had

er

force. Burning fury filled his red eyes a

ve been lying to me, I won't show you m

thered beneath my

n. My life was truly a

ll along? What secret had