Claimed by the RUTHLESS ALPHA

on her side, one arm beneath her pillow, the other curled over her chest. Sleep had com

t night's conversation. She was

ria... whether yo

clung to her skin

ned with oil paintings of wolves and somber-faced ancestors. She walked past them slowly,

is place felt... re

very no

the long table-some she'd seen briefly during her arr

ghtened h

wasn'

eyes as sharp as winter frost. Her dark braids were pulle

e Aria," th

odded

s pack," she said with

ia said, her voice mor

hen, without warning, she smiled. "You've got fir

no older than fifteen-rushed in, breathless.

came in from the

rrowed. "What

ced at Aria,

" Sera

und two patrol wolves dead near the a

chilled i

nned. "Send wor

dded and s

wisted. "What's

ormer Alphas who lost their titles, wolves banished from every ter

they want?"

k. "Territory. Bloo

rt made Aria

ecause she added, "You're safe here

said it made

ai

e a territory

her fists beneath the table as the Be

ing to make sense of her place in this gil

mooth voice she didn't recognize.

rned s

was too easy, too confident. His dark hair was slicked

l's cousin. Or disappointme

idn't

humans tremble when Kael even breathes near them. Bu

long," she

ed. "That mak

ul, Aria. Not every cage here has g

shing into the corrido

't shake Lu

e has gold bars. Some

he mean

aze of gleaming staircases and long halls, and even with daylight spilling through a

ond the courtyard, a forest loomed-dark, ancient, humming with wild li

prickle of wor

r. She turned just

streaks of dried blood-not his own, she guessed.

nharmed,"

plied. "Sera told

door behind him. His energy crack

s," he said tightly. "Two of

aid, unsure what e

ass of water from a decanter. "The Blackthorn pac

sage t

d to her

her pause.

sured, as if the beast in him

ed someone. They can

mmed in her ches

et. But you're in my ho

She'd nearly forgotten the faint imprint-silver and shaped like a

olves," he murmured. "But to

hand away. "You

't nee

you expect

g dangerous across his expression

t's choice or romance. But claiming is survival. The rogues don'

ecting me-you're

ittered. "Both

between them. Aria's fin

e whispered. "But what you're really do

cause if I don't cage you, Aria.

if it was a thre

the door burst open. Sera e

something," she s

e toward h

fabric-black, bloodstained.

lashed across a

d low. "It'

breath

ou mean?"

grim glance. "

o a thunderous whisper

our cousin?

turned to Sera. "Send trackers.

efully, "if Lucian crossed

was savage. "I'll drag his b

s he stormed o

ence here. Kael's possessiveness. The B

he been pu

ll, cold voice in

only the