Fated for the Alpha

ed man's words echoed in her ears: "You were framed." The memory of his

am

e blood, the accusations, and the crushing weight of Killian's rage-had haunted her every moment sin

bling to the surface. What did this

pted her thoughts. Cassia froze,

me a voice, l

lia

posing figure. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him with del

said, his golden eye

meet his gaze. "About what? How you've kidna

humor in his expression. "You're not a pri

snapped. "From wha

th a gaze that made her skin prickl

let him see her fear. "I've been taking

ngerous whisper. "If you think those rogues found

omach twist

is tone hard. "But you need to start being hon

und her throat. Cassia's wolf stirred uneasily, torn bet

d, her voice brittle.

think you understand the situation you're in. You're my mate, Cassia. That means your proble

Cassia stood her ground. "You can't just

rust is earned, not given. But if you want t

cing. She couldn't tell him. Not yet.

. "You think you're protecting yourself by keeping secrets

ed and walked to the door. He pau

e said, his voice low. "But so does

ing Cassia alone with the cr

, the halls dimly lit by moonlight filtering through narrow windows. Her

taying still felt like surrender, and she re

nearly collided with a figur

the scarred man ask

her pulse racing. "Wha

d. "I want you to stay alive. That's not go

is?" she hissed. "You drop a cryp

"I knew your parents. I know what happened the night Killian's fat

enched. "Why shou

s there," he

ds settled over her l

sked, her voice bare

he end of the hall before returning to her. "

to the surface-her father's laughter, her mother's warm smil

hy didn't you protect him?" she

g in his eyes. "I tried. But the rea

he leaned against the wall fo

his voice low. "He was betrayed by someone he tru

t him, her mind

ation evident. "But I do know one thing: they'

told her to run, to leave the pack and its tangled web of lies behind. But

ther had bee

responsible wa

he bond with Killian thrummed faintly in the back of her m

she'd need to unravel the truth-n