/1/119575/coverbig.jpg?v=2f6716461e7b9624ea72bb8da968b185&imageMogr2/format/webp)
a
over a pothole, jostli
o a green and brown smear. Towering iron gates had swallowed us whole miles back,
tone in my gut. My maid Clara's was
ped the worn fabric of her skirt. Her
voice low and steady. It was a lie, bu
I didn't know, shot a contemptuous look at us in the r
a halt. Clara cried o
's shoulders, pulling her back before her head could hit the hard plastic. My reflexes were blindingly fast-far too fast
my place in this bloodline and ensure no one could ever step on me again, I had to play the long game. Let them think I was a helpless pig ready for slaught
runted in di
a sprawling gravel courtyard, in front of a main
wide stone steps. Wolves. Their ey
dler. Her dress was a whisper of expensive silk, a vibrant splash of c
ic of his black shirt. The air around him practically crackled with power. An Alp
ation. This welcome party for an illegitimate daug
is ear. I couldn't hear her words, but
He let out a short, sharp scoff a
ing up the distance to the SUV. The murmuring crowd
th the controls, a flicker of fear in hi
and closed around the door h
He didn't open the door. He ripped it open, his rahed into the car, whippi
d, and scrambled to the far corner of
r into shadow. He loomed over me, a mountain of muscle and fury. His sc
what he expected to see. A frightened little Omega, w
I lifted
ear, my expression a calm, unreadable mask. I wou
flicker of surprise. His chest rose and fell in a s
ows snapped together, his anger a shield f
voice a shrill, amplified mockery designed for the entire pac
e, Caleb? I told you my father's little mistake was an absolute eyesore. I can't believe t
I was dirt beneath his boots. "I've smelled wet rats with more app
aughter rippled t
grave with her public cruelty. The harsher they were to me now, the
my worn canvas bag on the floor. I didn't ha
SUV. My worn-out boots crunched on the gr
defiance in the face of their collective scorn. Then, I lifted my chin and let my
r died in t
terest in his eyes was back, but this time it was sharper, more dangerous. He had expec
/1/119575/coverbig.jpg?v=2f6716461e7b9624ea72bb8da968b185&imageMogr2/format/webp)