a's
rriors arrived from the Pack House along w
cts to me, they turned t
e at the main house for instruction," one of t
truction?" Mirand
anyone who damages a Pack Elder's valuable possessions must kneel i
am the Alpha's-" she caught herself just in time, remem
ryone, Mrs. Miranda," the g
speak, but Thompson knowi
You've already been through enough with the Alpha Al
ll. I'd merely wanted to ask about Luna Beth's health, as I
s management, but family matters had
protested, she would have
freezin
ed every m
ther glance as I prepa
bled. "Luna, what
it soon for restoration, then it will be
anyone that the set in the
safely stored in my
tely i
ith the wish that I would think of her whenever I used
-
us's
forced to kneel in the courty
utes, I arrived a
hit my face, my black cashmere coat falling straig
I saw
knees in th
in me snap
e into
ulled her into my arms without a word.She was freezing,
estless beneath my ski
ad done, she was sti
y from the pack house, not s
-
fa and began applying ointment to her reddened
voice steady. "When grandmother gives an order, you
at my sleeve, her eyes red-rimmed and filled with tears. "Lucius, w
ightly. "You
ing to a whisper. "She deliberately tricked me in
ministrations as I defended my mate-my legal wife. "Viya has the gen
ly at Miranda, "Grandmother cherishes her more than anyone.
. "Are you saying I'm lying about
rose sharply. "You
d with her disappointed eyes, I forced myself to remain calm
an you honestly say you don't have any feelings for
ith Miranda. Yet faced with this particula
e mate bond,
ispleased at my hesitati
es. "I have nev
the words. Not just for the lie itself,
with her wolf-all to avoid the pull of our fat
e hand supporting her lower back, the other holding a gift bo
. "Lucius, Luna Beth wants to know if you'll at
ast into an orphanage for rogue wolve
sar brought her home and vowed to raise her
e Blackwood Pack. Even after she married me, business dea
ed. "Of course. I'll come pick you up t
rig
n glanced at Miranda sitting beside me. With character
nt to stop her. "Viy
ing the package a li
f your friends have
ersary gift. I was plan
sical blow. Three years. We had b
ay sneered. *You forget what's import
e words felt hollow eve
meeting mine steadily as she handed me the box. Her voice was soft
ides, your birthday is in two weeks. C
hday, Lucius!" sh
p and quick slice through my heart. It wasn't e
ous care. It was obvious how much thought she'd put int
rd, harboring selfish secrets I
o an apricot-colored wool coat and wrapping a scarf around her neck. Her de
n she w
gait wasn't right. She
wled. *Our mate is in pa
Miranda let out a sharp hiss of p
helped her sit down again. "Is your knee botheri
lanced at the box in my hands. She muttered, "You claim you don't have
da, I've already
cheeks. "What about me? Lucius, what are you th
Viya isn't that
u realize every word you
se from the sofa, crying pre
r a moment before
what I was thi
hear anyone speak ill of
reminded me. *The bond exists whether you acknowledge
package, and I couldn't help wondering if
/1/113391/coverbig.jpg?v=7021afefb8a454fb70787e6a110c1612&imageMogr2/format/webp)