er
invited" to Meredith's
furniture, smelling faintly of potpourri and power. Victoria and Blake
iff-backed chair opposite
aight, my hands fol
y teeth ache. "We want you to understand that Chace's decision, while difficult, is truly for
pack's protection, a wolfless girl on her own... well, things can
as left of them, were scattered and struggling.
n was soft, her touch cloying. "Eller, please," she pleaded, her voice a breathy whisper. "
y heart hammered against my ribs. But on the surface, I allowed a flicker of pa
glove coming off. "You don't have long to consider. The Alpha will be making the official
ooked down at my lap. I let the silence s
ting Meredith's gaze. I g
spered, letting my voice c
room was almost audible. They had w
gned me, my steps measured, my head held high
f fragilit
ng air. Below, the vast, manicured lawns of the Johnston estate stretched out into the
I dialed the only number stored in
s a low rumble, laced wit
on that churned inside me. I recounted the events of the a
hen I heard it-a muffled roar of fury, followed by the dis
commanding. "Calm down. I need yo
over the line. "What plan? Eller, you
rst, I need you to start moving all my liquid assets. Everything in my personal accounts. I
everything went wrong, it was the only thi
tly. His loyalty was absolute. "What'
filling my lungs. I watched a lon
ecome Edmund Jo
n cut. Briar was a man who had faced down rogue alphas and assassins
aged to say, his voice barely
Chace's subordinate, I'm nothing. Powerless. But as Edmund's widow... I become the Luna of the main fam
oice, mixed with awe and terror.
nd on Edmund Johnston. Every detail about his death six months ago. His service records, his personal
his voice now firm, resol
I replied, and
my knees feel weak. But as I stood there, silhouetted
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