le Phe

he basement corridor rattled on its

was the room the Savage family had prepared for my return-a windowless utility clos

usted deadbo

om my body. My good leg gave out, and I slid down the da

er layer of skin, exposing a jagged sliver of dark metal. Around the wound, the flesh had turned a

rs, I unzipped the hidden interio

fully on my lap, revealing twelve slender needles made of ancient, hand

st dungeon of the detention center with me. She had taught me the lost art of meridian needlework, a secret technique

the leather sheath, and positioned them over the prim

first needle two inches deep i

oothing, icy numbness. I placed the second and third needles into the nerve cl

a cold, quiet stillness. My hidden white wolf bloodline-a divine heritage

tsteps paused righ

ryn's voice came through the thin w

e needles, not even botherin

le, open the mind-link. Talk to me ins

network exclusive to pack members who carried an active inner wolf. It required an intentional mental push

y mental barrier and bounced back li

side, his voice laced with irritation and pity. "Open the door, Danie

id, pulling a fourth needle and sliding it beneath the

rafters. "Kacey brings the support of the Cabrera financial syndicate! She secures my seat as the next CE

to walk away before I lose

the metal fragment firmly against the bone. The pain was completely blocked by

side the door fo

mous. "In this metropolis, an unshifted female with no pack backin

ed down the hall

that tasted like iron. Protection? I had survived five years in a

lled myself to my feet. The needles held my join

ic

e door swung open, and the dim yellow lig

od in the

ace was completely free of tears, her swollen cheek already calmed by high-grade

she purred, stepping inside and

nch immediately fi

ldy bread crusts and sour milk-the scraps fed to the lowest

green eyes flashing with malice. "Eat up. Bryant told the kitch