ra's

ath catching as his vo

scent reached me, cedar, leather, and the w

came again, c

ns on regainin

sharp claws scrapin

a J

ght have nodded politely, offere

I once trusted now only reminde

e controlled, his expression calm

o once swore loyalty beneath the moonlight, no

thing had

e sworn to protect me as a B

crumbled, he was the one who

d the accusations rose, Beta J

cky, defending the Donald family and throwing m

y rejected me as his

ne who framed me and stood by

ring behind closed doors like a coward. "Helen can't

he knocked one of them down and growled at the others u

e end, he had traded my f

r, the one who helped send the Alpha's daughter into a

ears of betrayal could be swept away, he reached

s he once brought, back when my heart foolishly trus

no warmt

bouquet with steady ha

quietly, my voice

t, Beta Jam

gaze, but like always, he recovered quickl

voice broke th

. Get in

ven glancing his way. My face stay

stopped himself before reaching me. His eyes followed

on clinging to him. But it was nothin

dealt years ago when he stood

for him in every crowd, wa

ice softly calling me "Little Moon" as we chased each o

no longer cared for him to prot

words, I finally turned to h

a James, and you chose t

y but had no wor

tinued, "and chose her. You spoke your o

e," I whispered. "I only w

ave," I finished, voice steady. "You l

s arms crossed, posture stiff, eyes narrowed. H

im but kept my focus on Be

low and unshaken. "Don't pretend

ined frozen, un

pen hatred almost felt cleaner. At lea

, Alpha Keith

t his sides, his Beta instincts warring between guilt

closing the door behin