cted him. Announced visits were useless-staff smiled harder, managers hid
on a weeknight, half-listening to Miles read off complaint numb
seventeen," Miles said. "Two guest-care
sed one hand. Mil
t hair stuck to her neck. A red handprint on her cheek.
gh to see through. Bu
ack daughter wore like je
g herself toge
Killian, Ro
vening's business reports with his usual contempt. N
her, ]Ro
ha Killia
t who hu
t h
ator. Her steps were steady, but her toes were white
oved before he
doors. They opened
y in a way that made somet
ing they had signed the wrong contract, in rival Alphas when Rowan showed his teeth. This was not fear.
de her, careful to leave space. Rowan hated
ted. She had not
loor?" h
htee
the button. The elevator rose. Her scent reached him in fragments under soap, rain, and pa
nt utter
ust. With
did not need an Alpha filling a steel box with demands, even if every instinct in him wanted to t
n. She stepped out and than
hed until the hall
hrough the phone in his ear.
the female guest who just checked in. No one gives out her room number. If anyone asks for
ause. "Ye
anti-swelling crea
ore careful this time. "Do yo
r's polished wall. Cold eyes. Still face. The same face t
et staff de
lled through him
o me," Alpha
d him the Sterling Wolf. Some w
his father after a family challenge no one
Alphas expect
rogues and tried to murder three patrol guards in their slee
f standing over the traitor's body at the edge of Sterling territor
d him a chil
him ambitious. They called him unmated
e hotels, three resorts, and the most
ghters wrapped in silk and political con
ord. Alpha Killian
wrists stepped into his hotel, and control
himself. He did not as
d knocked once. Inside, silence. Then soft movem
esk had recorded on the welfare note and nothing more. "Sterling Hot
pa
y a crack. The chai
llian thought.
ag. In her right hand, half hidden by the
almost moved. "Also a good choice.
ickered in her eyes. Not amusement exactly
member,"
rs. Cream. Water. No charge
ds like co
ll make
bag. Her fingers brushed the back of his hand. Ice cold. Alpha Killian's wolf surged
you," s
sts before he could stop it. The marks wer
y, "and your wrists. Do you n
at once. "I had a fi
Alpha Killi
ut there was no humor in it.
version us
ntion landed fully on them. Eira Crawford did not. Exhausted, hurt, wrapped in a blanket
ling it,"
that handling something alone di
good lawyer." The words came ou
surprise. Recognition. "Thank you f
rse sh
d his head. "Then I h
ething almost like a smile
began t
Craw
pa
ber from my staff. If anyo
he guarded look in
ight,"
ck clicked. Then the ch
Behind that door was a married woman with bruises, a lawyer,
disa
the wo
hand tightened
wolf. Not unle
d not calm ei
and pressed the button for the top floor instead of the
continuing th
. His voice had returned to its usual coldness.
laints?" Miles aske
glowing number eighteen as
r n
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