ma

enver yells. "I see no reason why this...t

a glare at Soren's father, and then my gaze shifts to Soren himself, who's staring at me like he

eaten him to a pulp if Cade hadn't

er shouts, spittle flying from his mo

and I promise you that the situation will be dealt with

a calm voice. "I feel very disrespected, and as your gues

distance between us and punch him again in front of every

rned Emmalee. She's my only priority, and he

you can tell Alpha Denver and Soren how sorry you are for what you've do

. She wants me to apologize to this asshole, but I know her. She just wants it to end. She doesn't believe that Soren deserves an apology. In fact,

te. Because it's what p

, sigh, then say, "N

a young age, I've been taught to protect Emmalee and Cade because they're younger than me. I deemed h

like he wants to kill me. I stare back at him calml

oying m

ne who you consider family, but the truth of the matter is that he doesn't share the same rank with S

oesn't look at me. I square my shoulders and stare at Fathe

e the first t

ell us what you think a fitting punish

ng," Sore

ts to protest, but I'm tired of this back and forth that won't lead anywhere

at me. My eyes are straight ahead at Soren, though

taught him a lesson

ghs. "As

eye, I see Emmalee standing up. She turns t

he estate are watching me as I head to the fountain. It's righ

I don't look back at them as one of the employees, Justus, walks over to me with a le

me up,"

rst crack of the whip bites into my back. I clench my jaw and try not to move or make a soun

ally S

th each crack of the whip, I remember Emmalee's look of disbelief when they mentioned the whipping, and how she'd stepped in f

I'd suffer twic

I hear F

help me, but I ignore it, causing him to shake his head. I turn on my heel. It's only Soren and Cade who are left behind,

u've got?" I as

room is, close to the stables. I'm trying to stay strong just until I get there, but I'm dizzy, and I can fe

lly throw myself into it, but the sight of a cryin

" I say h

She grabs my arm and helps me toward the bed. "Why did you acce

my front. It's a relief to be lying down, but all the

a better way to handl

have been happy with anything else," I remind her

she pleads in a voice b

a good look at her face. Her dark eyes are pe

t he is?" I ask

ates. "I could never be with som

ve a choice,"

d so does her voice. "

ting so damn fast? "What'

im!" she concludes. "I don't care, Ro

ut I feel a sharp pain that makes me lie back down, and Emmalee gets on her knees beside my bed and p

top her, and her eyes fall on me again. I ask

t," she

se of

e one of the most important people in the world to me, Romain, and he didn't s

though I want to smile like an idiot. She was too good for him, an

ining it? "You're the only person who's ever understood me, Romain. All these years, you've been by my si

heart thudding in m

ly. "I don't want anyone else. I never have. It's alwa

e truth in her words, raw and real, and it takes everything I have to keep myself

o find the right words. "I don't d

er eyes. "Don't say that. Don't even th

tant. Right now, I don't care about the pain. I raise my head an

ns out everything else-the doubts, the complications, and even t

she can

and I know that there isn't anything in this

anyt