headlines wer

ims Forsaken Mate Through

lpha Declares Public Contr

Ashbourne, Named

at the scree

ll me that bastard didn't just f

egal in legacy bloodline cas

rt move. Political.

aid, voice flat. "He's painting it like

you on every radar. Anyone who helps y

ut firing a bullet," Kelsa growled. "This isn

newsfeed. "He's trying to bury the archive brea

r thoughts were tumbl

He didn't need a bond to control her-he just needed

ped in fr

have to pla

d unblinking. "No. I'll

rough the Alpha Court in tailored black,

l is waiting," h

. His face wa

om was lined with thrones of Alpha elders, ancient a

e invoked the Legacy Bloodline Mandate. Tha

there hasn't been a case l

was decla

liv

ged. Whispers t

elder snapped. "A rebel

Our bond was never legally dissolved. It was

py of the archi

s er

ation clause. This contract binds her to appear at cou

"You're walking a thin line, Alpha

order. To her. To me

old precision. "Let

shattered mirror, holding a dress Cade fou

me to show up to the court lik

s forcing your hand. At lea

eflection. She barel

lab table was gone. But so w

only the sto

o that court to

Good. Because w

an was

contract requirement, Kelsa and Malek would infiltrate the Regime's media s

xperiments. The mat

st lose power. He'

Lyra's re

she had to

Court wa

d in the air. Every

ked by armed guards, cloaked in cold elegance. The

walke

under i

k dress like a statement piece-

cracked for

the stairs. "Your decree said

says we must speak the marriage ri

she said. "Sa

"By right of legacy, by blo

ne," she

ire roo

line," one of

ing forward. "Because the bond was broke

he drive to

hem see who thi

ped toward

eye. "You should've killed

ek hacked the media hub

s all over the contine

ation Requested by A

ulation. Bond er

d. Elders shoute

to her, eyes d

here to de

d, stepping back. "

. "We've got to move. He

urned

follow. He cou

entire Coun

hrough the doors, Zand

letting he

this

ev

e, Lyra collapsed on

his face?"

expression. "'You came here to d

's what happens when you

into something ge

ree," she murmur

. "Because he's

"Because part of me...

yr

say I'd fo

le

for a

in close. "He's n

eyes ha

her a