scowl melted

aid, voice su

rn as I patted its cold surface, as if my pu

eturned from that northern terri

the hour or his "prior commitm

tallest hospital, in t

ire, who'd been crooning to Lilli

n? I though

lance at the pup in the silk sheets. "Li

add

ts clutching his shirt. "I'm scared without y

r close, rubb

l full of strange elixirs." His voice turned to ho

oulders sagg

ian's cheek with

ngs to find a heart donor for

s tone softened, and Claire t

ied to nuzzle closer, he stood. "I'll grill

!" Lillian cal

another pair slid open. I charged out

urse shouted, but I

Brooks, my eyes bloods

heart donor! She'd still b

Brooks w

ed to help, but I stayed rooted,

rt had been rerouted to some big-shot's pup at the last second

, I turne

elevators, Lillian cam

eady her, Claire s

up!" she hissed, s

for blood, come a

d without

e his voice boomed: "Olivi

of Claire and Lillian, blocki

balled a

ve time for

llian grabbed Alpha Sean's

spent my birthday with me? I

d turned

nto the pond, wailing, "Ellie, did I

nded Ellie for days,

ever from the cold, sobbing: "

believes you," I

mory burned

s wails g

rward again: "I sa

MA

with her cheek be

you lost your

red, lunging to

ng my eyes, and a searing pain-hotter

s of loyalty-flashed before

fered my entire soul to, a sicke

eral years ago!" I shrieked, voi

my wrist free and landed a sting

n skin reverberated

der this our final

like rivers on opposite sides of

back, palm throbbi

red; no she-wolf had

rnful "Hmph," but I did

my heel, I

ht: that I'd tricked

ed by his side witho

leave

corner of that villa-because his indiffere

... I imagine him dragging home, b

n and every trace of

at enchanted phone and

me

sent, a warning

locked by

ng, the line rang on

en. After fleeing Royal Gardens, I'd come to this

ia family, tending to Alpha Se

beaten, starving, escaped fr

leanor wh

she shut down the corrupt pl

lung to Helen,

she worked until her last days. When s

, I'd just fini

to take out the trash,

k inside, a vice-like