STEPUNCLES ALPHA'S PUNISHES ME EVERYNIGHT

UMN

e weight. Every eye in the room was on me-some filled with judgment, others with curiosity. But the worst of

able, calculating. And Dante... Dante leaned against the table, his fingers drumming lig

g as he spoke. "The evidence speaks for itself." His voice w

eaked open. Two figures stepped inside

best friends. My confidan

my lips before I could

d bowed as she stepped forward. Bu

Adonis

umn arguing with Thorne three

blocking my return to the pack!" My voice wavered, but I forced myself t

erbs from the eastern forest-wolfsbane and nig

w exactly why I was gathering those herbs! I was helping H

You told me yourself that wolf

Because it is. That d

like a cruel reminder of what I had lost. He stopped just inches away, his voice

. My heart cracked. I searched his gaze for the warmth that us

voice wobbled. "Some

a moment-doubt fli

sound echoed through the hall, and my body flinched invol

fair trial?" My voice rose. "What about justice? Since wh

as he studied me. "You speak of justice while B

dagger anyone could have taken from my quarters!

aler Willow confirms you lef

le. I hadn't left except to... Oh gods. Except

elf to breathe. "There must be someone who saw me in the

ge room has no windows and only one entrance,

in my ears. "Someone is framing me

d. "Who? Who would g

a." The silence that f

his head. "Again with

e perfect little sister, the fragile victim. She ran to them every time, crying, pointing fingers, weaving her web of deceit so tightly around me that I could no longer breathe.

d, the echo reverberating through the empty

leaned against the long wooden table, arms crossed, silver-blue eyes unreadable. And

I was alone with my mate

ced through the si

familiar, so warm once-grabbed my wrists. "Don't fight, Autumn,

ir. In seconds, thick ropes coiled around my w

wisting against the bi

ed. "It's Alpha

ll me Barbie."

ing in their depths. Then, just as quickly, it was gone. "B

m. Wanted to forc

flexed. "Your sweet words and that innocent face once had me fooled." He leaned down, his golden-brown

, fighting the burning in my e

your stepsister again, Autumn?" He sho

ecking the ropes. "I kept giving you chances," he murmured, voice low. "Thinking you'

skin. My fingers tingled.

rope a final, firm tug. "You betrayed tha

lease, just

one who valued truth above all else. I turned to him, des

ps quirked in a humorless line.

is voice was a low murmur, filled with a bitter nostalgia. He reached out, his fingers barely grazing my cheek i

a chilling resolve. His hand fell away. "But that

ueler than any physical strike. The last ves