HIS to CLAIM ALPHA ZEKE

regnant, Cecelia.And it

fingers, shattering against the marble floor of the pack house d

"My voice shook.I was n

ould get anything she wanted, men worshipped the ground that she walked on.Why my husband?Even as she delivered the news that rocked

lia.I never meant f

ining table until my knuckles went white."

d full of pity."Be honest with yourself

flew to the pain point in an attempt to soothe it.I struggl

Brooke had shocked everyone by choosing me, the plain, adopted Cecelia over my stunning sister for the peace treaty marriage.I felt

desperate I sounded."At the betrot

graceful steps."Or did he choose the

you talk

nd your own pack, your own life.But by marrying you..."She paused, letting the implicatio

nd I collapsed into

nd I... we've been happy.He

o humor in it."Cecelia, whywhen was t

d spun as I considered it.Six months of marriage, and

ntinued relentlessly."When was the last time he came to your bed without you having to in

across the table to take my hands.I yanked them away."Cecelia, he's been meeting with me in secret since the

then

emembered

n the fir

dropped to a whisper."We were heartbroken children forced apart by our fa

my chair toppled

cel

id ge

mper flaring."Do you think this is easy for me?Do you thi

bout that before you sprea

cheek stung, but the physical pain was nothing

h in horror."Oh goddess, Cece

ve always meant it, haven't you?Every cruel word, every moment you made me feel small and wo

s not

ng with Zeke always part of your plan?Ever since we got marr

e now."I came here to make peace with you, to try to be t

thought you had c

she whi

tting every ounce of hurt and rage filter Into my voice."Zeke and I are actually

cel

ith him, whatever pretty lies he's been whisper

ist before her hand could connect, my adoptive fath

rising to the surface."Do

I held tight.For the first time in our l

go," she

tell me the t

ady tol

o know why.Why now, Layla?Why come here

meeting mine with an expression I coul

me like ice

eep lying to you.That you deserved to k

e stumbled backward."He wants a div

uietly."He won't break the mate bond agai

arry you

es

pack's territory.In the distance, I could see the sea cliffs where I'd sp

officially.He wants t

r been able to give him, de

out,

ia, pl

I do something w

g.Only then did I let myself break down, sliding down the window until I wa

se it