Beyond His Lies, Her Alpha's Love

put his needs before her own. This ingrained habit, a survival mechanism from a cold childh

past, a strange orchid perfume leading her to Ivan's car, where a tube of crimson lipstick lay on the passenger seat. Thro

t through the sto

just a pl

made with her own parents, who had sold her for a kickback to buy this

placed by a chilling resolve. The burning acid in her throat

ted his ruin, and as Ivan walked in with a fake smi

pte

ana

round the insulated thermos pressed against my chest. The heavy rain lashed against the pavement, the icy droplets soak

sm forged in the freezing, echoing halls of my childhood home, where my vampire parents lo

etric scanner usually flashed green the second I stepped into its rad

tepped out into the rain, his shoulders hunched. He didn't meet my

bled, staring at my wet boots. "

y umbrella. "An appointment? It's me. I am Ivan

riveway, then back to the ground. "System malfunction, ma'am. T

a breath and pushed a fraction of my Alpha mate aura outward. It wasn't a vio

. He was a low-ranking wolf, and the sheer weight of a Luna's command terrif

light on the scanner mocked his lie. I stepped onto the stone path

the trees, carrying the scent of wet earth, pine, and s

enses were razor-sharp. It was how I diagnosed

synthetic, cloyin

feet. Ivan's black sports car sat inside the dark space. I walked over, my boots silent

rchid punched me in the face. It was so

g on the pristine black leather was a tub

my knuckles turned a stark, bone-white. Deep inside my chest, my inner wolf b

losed the car door with a soft click. I turned and continued

om the massive floor-to-ceiling windows onto the wet grass. The rain was co

right up to the glass. The heavy velvet curtains were drawn,

light and shadow. I shifted my umbrella, freeing my right hand. My fingertips touched t

ame into s

loor. Several brightly colored plastic toys wer

ghtgown that clung to her curves. The shape of her shoulders, the cascade of her

downward, searc

, my pupils dilated. My lungs stopped

s is imp