dy'

for myself, and somewhere along the way I'd gotten good at it. It didn'

the study door and eased it open. I gave him a

e." Same flat, dist

y, neither of us willing to break the silence

mething to say. Then I'd catch that cool, unbothered

dishes. I didn't argue. If he wanted to share

ything made it obvious he'd never done this before. Which made sense, really. The Alp

ed over and reached fo

ed the dish out of my reach

look in his eyes stopped me cold. I gave up and no

t random. Of course, the screen filled instantly with footage of Cassian g

the kitchen. Through the glass door, I could see him,

Even doing something as ordinary as washing d

nk. What in the world would it take to catch him off gu

room to find me sitting there, lost somewhere in my own head.

something strange to me. It sounded impossibl

of the couch. "There are some thing

ng the same thing. This was

w and considering, before he beg

inish. "Honestly, the last thing I want is people whispering about us be

any. I still wanted to climb higher on my own merit. I didn't

't hide my position as Alpha from you on purpose. Seeing you there today, in front of everyone, I didn't know

ferent worlds for me. I'm the one who doesn't

wo of us. As far as I was concerned, there was

my work. For another, I honestly had no i

my face. After a pause, he asked, "Have

or a moment, I alm

ords came

mi

ind, my chest ached, a dull tight

had stopped being my home

born. My father never forgave me for being scentless. He called me a defect

't offer pity either. When he spo

A scent doesn't make

in my ches

my name, low and steady, then added, "Yo

ose. But something about it sent a wave of f

he dead of night, when it all came back to me, the grief would ri

mean it when I say I want to spend the rest of my li

met his eyes, and there was nothing but sincerity in them. "I want that to

can you promise me something, Wendy? No matter

'll do everything I can

Hearing him say it out loud, in his own voice,

loosened. Even Wraith, who'd been restless and

he study. I tidied up a li

n visible at his chest. His hair was still dripping, and I watched a sing

he look

t hot witho

s voice came low and warm, that deep, magnetic pull

no move

ed hard again

nt further-would the b

know, right then, tha