ter

na

h pitched than I meant it to be. My heart was still racing from t

an a hand through his dark hair and

There was no arrogance in his tone only the absol

ate and you know tha

ack as my pretend mate for a period of atleast one year and after that you will be gre

. All the stories I'd heard, the warnings I'd seen scrawled on parchme

?" I found m

at yet, I just li

do that? You want me to leave my pack, my life

" he said coolly, glancing back at the glowing

n of Brandon and Ashley, but I didn't

You looked like you were moments

voice quieter now, heavier. "My mom is he

blink. "I'll

o you mean by you

No chains, no commands. And after the year is up after our deal i

ded my arms across my chest as if

l women of respectable rank, why ch

was a

've found a mate. It's... important so that he can leave me alone, and I

. "So this is abou

ou've got spine. You're not a liability, and Bra

u think he'll care? You

er, "he won't risk challenging me o

the catch?" I asked. "Play house

is failing. He wants to know I'm settling down. That I'm not just a war machine." His jaw

rocess it all. "What about t

said. "That's all

s cool against my skin now, and the star

e compensated,"

ur own land, start fresh somewhere.

my mo

e moment you cross

long, fighting the currents Brandon threw at me daily. And now here was this man feared b

? What was the part h

year," I whispered.

hat, you

ed. "This

ost worthwhil

looked like a man who knew exactly how far he'd go

thing terrifyi

something gr

. "A contract. With my mother's freedo

t faintly. "Yo

ng a little closer. "You don't own me

. "But if you do, say

like it had been trapped in my lungs since my

hy not a she wolf from your pack? A train

like a curtain being tugged back. "Beca

umbled and

tarted, but he

u d

into my lip. "And what if I s

rformance. You'll have the life Brandon tried t

d pulled out a phone. "My b

d my mother safe. Not if I wanted even a

hispered. "

ce, slow and

more serious than ever. "

h, I said to myself. I

r, voice low, a

ll in lov