'S

ne, perhaps looking for hesitation or regret. When he fo

ehind my ear. His fingers grazed my skin, leaving a trail of heat

ing i shouldn't be feeling. But I cou

with you? You shouldn't want

nded in my head. 'His scent and domineering aura

out. Since when did

re getting married today," Richard

oday? That's too so

s voice firm but not unkind. "I don't see the po

rocess all of this. My mother is in the hospital. She needs to g

ed up his phone. I watched as he scrolled through his

ing. "I need you at the City Hospital immediately. There's a patient there, Emily Ha

horacic surgeon in New York. I'd read about him in magazines. He operated

Dr. Matth

t is the mother of my Luna. She should be treated as VIP. The surgery must be a success wit

now," he answered. "Also, congr

ore turning to me with a satisfied smirk. "Your mother will be in

than two minutes, Alpha Richard had arranged for the best surgeon in the

d you do that?

you, Amy. I have more money and power than Derek could ever

his. His palm was warm and calloused, a sta

my stomach and Lexie purred in my hea

mate uncle and this is just for a year. Y

nted to see your mother

h me?" I raised m

mother in-law, of cour

but I decided against it an

t his secretary, and toward the elevator. I barely r

," I muttered, trying

t to be my wife. We should get used to

ently pulled me inside. The moment the doors closed behind us, I felt tr

uld smell his cologne, something woodsy and expensi

xie was going wild over his scent an

nes if I let her take over,

," he observed,

nervous

ess, right?" He turned to me with raised

Alpha with a heightened sense c

are doing this,' L

ption than to accept it,' I defended myself. 'Beside

t one year. What's the

rs slid open. Alpha Richard stepped out first, still

ng about their evening business. But the moment we e

single eye in the lobby was fixed on Richard and me

ss from my father's funeral. My makeup was probably smudged from crying. I w

ichard murmured, as i

aiting at the curb. A driver hurried to open the doo

me, his thigh brushing against mine. The driver closed the

ow, watching the streetlights blur past, and tried to make

k cheating. And now, I was sitting in a car with Richard Wellington,

m. A strange, surre

eady?" Richard asked,

o look at

head. "I can see the doubt in your eyes. I need you to

ought about Derek, his smug face, his pathetic excuses. I thought about all the

e steady. "I'm just trying to proces

slowly before

ont of the emergency entrance. Before I could open the door,

manners?" I asked,

leman when I want to be

The moment we stepped through the doors, I saw Dr. Matthews

ing hair and kind eyes, noticed Richard immediately.

ding his hand. "Good to see you again, thoug

. "Dr. Matthews. Thank you fo

en turned his attention to me. "

f guard by the title

d confirmed, his voice sm

hat your mother is in the best possible hands. I've reviewed her chart,

you, Dr. Matthews. You have no

sed. "Now, if you'd like to see her

"Yes, please. I

follow. I started to walk, but Richard's

he sai

him, confu

ring off my finger. The metal felt cold as it left my skin, and I felt a strange se

ring. "I'll get you a more expensive one tomorrow. It is going to be b