y
kind of work to do. I pulled on an old t-shirt and jeans and wa
three large ca
designer handbag he'd bought to apologize for missing my birthday. The first-edition book I'd adored, wh
cavating a dead civilization. The items held no sentimenta
expensive, the cheap, the meaningfu
you doin
ere, leaning heavily on her cane. She had her ow
y voice tight. I forced a lightness I di
elry cases and silk scarves. "My goodness, Kay. Alec has spoi
. The sound of the tape gun was violent in the
es in thick black
asn't simultaneously ending and beginning. The effort was exhausting. As soon as she left,
rtment was cleansed. It felt big
seven years. I did my makeup with a new, ruthless precision: a shar
d into the sil
eavy against my skin, clinging to my body in a way that was p
oor two nights ago. This woman was sharp edges and cold fire. I
emic prestige. The moment I stepped into the ballroom, a hush fell over the small group
God, is t
d over, his eyes wide with astonishment. "You look... incredible. Wh
ress," I said wi
ping. He had always been sharp. He'd been one of the few who
st n
n his face. "His loss. Come on, Professor Ca
sor Carlisle, a legend in strategic theory, was holding court by the
taking both my hands in his. "Wasting that mind of yours in corpo
," I said, my voice clear and carrying. "As
Several prominent figures, CEOs and investors, turned to look at m
ut geopolitical risk models when
blood r
ative parasite. I had forgotten Blackwood was a major donor t
arrogant and proprietar
opped
primal blaze of stunned admiration that he couldn't hide. He was st
ed his gaze. When she saw me, her perfectly made-up fa
d with the predatory grace of an Alpha, cutting a path
"Kay," he said, his voice a low growl. "What are yo
, Leo subtly shifted his posit
him. I kept my atten
smooth as ice. "Allow me to introduce Al
r emp
a physical slap. His fa
ng closer. I could smell the whiskey on his
him with anger or pain. I looked at him with a sort of detach
sudden lull of conversation. "I believe you are invading m
Publicly rebuking an Alpha, her own mate,
re, not in a room full of powerful humans and rival pack members. He was exposed, stripped of his primary we
s a taut wire,
sphere in the enti
a child's tantrum, rolled out from the entrance. The cha
by two imposing bodyguar
He looked like a king. His stormy gray-blue eyes scan
h mine across t
started to wa
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