voice was cold, laced with venom

ered, her voice shaky, he

e could feel his stare, slicin

sed the

ed into the fabric of her dress, gri

ing. His eyes darkened, his fury pa

. "Mate," it whispered. He silenced it i

." Her voice broke into stutters, f

oice thundered th

lapsed onto her knees in submi

ish

would b

a whisper, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Fear pain

s stone, his ears de

s father after the old alpha's death. Once, her father had been the right hand of the pa

devoid of emotion. Then, without a second glance, he grasped his

to Alora, his expression tight with suppres

shook her head. "Nothing." Her voic

he cruelty, the torment, it was needless, sickening. She w

ed as rage bub

ur room. I'll

d, Otto stormed out, ange

, bit down on her lower lip, and forced her weary legs to move. Each step back to her room felt

roaning under his force. He stopped just inside, his sharp gaze

bit out, his voice laced with barely containe

, his fists clenching by his sides. A deep growl rumbled fro

you to question me, Otto?" Floyd's voice was low, dangerous. His pi

Floyd!" Otto's voice carried both authority and fru

saw through him. He saw the battle waging beneath t

," Otto murmured, his o

was an edge to his tone, one that hinted at somethi

," Otto countered, his words laced with quiet accusation. He wished he could

always loved her," he said, his voice gentler now, as if coaxing

e he ascended as alpha, how he doted on her, how he p

Floyd muttered, but his voic

studying Floyd's face. "That kind of love doesn't just disappear. So tell me,

st time, his gaze faltered. He looked

understood matters of the heart. And if he wasn't mistaken, his alph

any longer would burn him. He turned away, dragging a hand throug

Free her! End this

lenched his fists, his jaw tightening as a familiar weight se

t were th

ct her. He could

had war

s his secret, o

ower, everything would be weakened for years, leaving him vulnerable. A

ould be even worse. The consequences

was for her to re

s where the

d her. He had made her life unb

, pushing her to the brink, hoping she

h

ldn't s

rything, did it ange

ing Floyd refused to acknowledge. He had made his

her wolf

she beca

reject he

nto him, heavy wit

hy

of his nose. A strained smile ghosted his l

rain for years, leaving me vulnerable. My enemies will se

e chamber walls, their hus

lungs forgot to draw breath, his mind stal

f trying to rese

bbing his face with both hands,

s." His voice wavered, stri

through Otto's mind, furrow

motion slow and heavy. "On

er be. Mayb

ness, the weight of unce