Wounded Alpha, Healing Mate

inking of expensive heels across polished marble floors. Guests flowed in like silk draped i

event of the season, if the buzz in

erything dazzled. Everyt

was nowhere i

had long since lost its charm. Her sleeves were rolled up, her palms wrinkled and raw. Sh

other public declaration of his "precious girl's" worth. Mira didn't need to see it to know the scene. Liana would beam, curtsy light

mbered. Not even a slice of cake. Just the usual instructions:

and forced herself not to flinch when

were another member of the staff. "Your mother doesn't want fingerprints

t," Mira sa

e," Mrs. Brigs grumbled,

g since dawn. She'd helped the decorators hang lanterns, arranged Liana's name in flowers, and ensured t

d anyone sa

ll here, still invis

re her dreams...dreams of studying at the Lycan Academy of Healing and Wolf Medicine, where she could actually use her gifts to help others. Mira had been born with a ra

ast week when she mentioned her wish again. "Aldens do

ently in the shadows

erald dress gleaming like envy itself. Her blond curls were pinned into an elegant twist, and she wore

othering to mask her distaste. "Have

Mira

and fetch Liana's spare heels. She c

oes of the party fading the farther she went. The estate was beautiful, sure, but it always felt like a house that belonged to someo

aught her eye, Liana posing with their parents at last year's Alpha Ball. Mira had been in the

fix anything. She returned to the party floor just in time to see the guest of

birthday princes

ed to go, only to collide with Logan, Liana's arrogant ma

he snapped, steppi

oached, looping her arm through his. "She's just

huckled. Mira'

. But she didn't miss the look her father gave he

ainst the sink and let herself brea