ri

ind me. My pulse thundered in my ears as I replay

mate. No connection,

y life waiting for my mate, believing in a bond that would era

tly what he had planned. A

e than entertainment. Tell

would twist the bond into another po

old-digging, power-hungry she-wolf

e broken girl crying over a male. I washed my face, reached into my clutch, and pulled out m

are as gossip was as constant as breathing in this place, but something ab

in the garden. The prince had his hand on her waist. Can you belie

" a voice cut through the laughter like a blade

evi

for me to find out three years later that they were fated. The girl who had

mend what she had shattered,

sh me now made

could have any woman in that room. If he was looking for a

ght

on the door as Gen

le fling before he tosses her aside. And Marissa, goddess bless

ugh the door. Their conversation shifted

aught me one thing. Betrayal didn't always come fr

. The women froze like they'

came the fake smile, too brig

d my gaze flicked to

them. I walked to the sink, turned on the faucet, and washed my hands, taking my time a

and werewolves bending backward to impress the Lycans.

she stood with the healer, l

as nowher

with someone else, would I feel it? Would it burn through me lik

d on the queen. She was the most elegant person I

er they considered entertainment. My dad hovered behind them like a servant, s

ul to stay unnoticed, pressing mys

to her robes and pull

ll ease, but thi

fore she steadied herself. I

kno

o her bag and walked aw

medicine was for or what a Lycan queen

steering me toward the far side of the festival. I a

ooked like he'd rather be elsewhere. My dad rubbed his hands togeth

ent plan. The king and his family will stay at our ma

I already knew I couldn't let the

tin. Seduce him. Get pregnan

. I stared at my father,

ever

he grinned like he had just pr

subtle. Use your charms. If marriage isn't an option, leverage

them strategize my path to power, ex

t thing I've ever he

our father needs all the help he can get to rebuild. Our economy is collapsin

lt is that?" I

dered wealth and power for their own selfish gain, and now, rather t

ook at you," Brian said. "He has a type, Lycans. Why humil

ead

had n

already imagining himself as part of Lycan royalty. He'd drain whatever money he had left to throw

t made my

, but try. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Do you h

o respond, but then

erwhelming, and impossible to ignore. M

ng the crowd. My

ffing the air? A

er. And the

ancing with

possessively. As if she belong

ral, but inside, my bond screamed in protest. His fingers skimmed the girl's hips as

stin's room while he's busy with another girl. Or better yet, I

His grin slipped for half a second, and

le, forced but steady. "I don't think that's

d in my gut, bu

rsed me with a father who traded daughters like cu

e who caused m