Grace Harper has always been unwanted—until fate binds her to the cold, powerful Lycan King. As secrets unravel and danger rises, Grace must face a truth more powerful than love or freedom: she wasn’t born to escape her past… she was born to rewrite it. And the king who never wanted her might be the one who can’t let her go.
“Sorry. I’m not trying to be rude. We appreciate your help, but we have plans. And we don’t know you very well.” Andrew’s polite, at least, as he explains things to her. “Fair enough.” She smiles at me, not him. “The offer stands though. Especially if those plans aren’t really what you want to do.”…
“Oh? Are you playing host now, Alpha Raphael?” He swallows, his eyes once again sliding off to the side. What little confidence he’d gathered is gone with a mere sentence, leaving me disgusted once again. “I apologize if that came across poorly. My people are still… adjusting to the Lycan presence.” “Are there complaints?” “No,…
Lie, lie, LIE. “Lying again?” I grab his jaw, forcing him to maintain eye contact. “After what just happened to your hand, you’re still lying to me, you little shit?” A tremble runs through his body. It’s hard for any alpha wolf to submit, even a young one, but hardest for those who rule over…
Lyre’s slitted eyes widen slightly, but her expression remains neutral as she watches our exchange. “You can’t be serious,” Andrew hisses at me, snatching at my forearm. “What about Rafe?” yank my arm from his grip. The mention of Rafe’s name hardens something inside me-calcifies all the doubts swirling through my mind. Lyre might even…
“I should go,” he says, as if he’s wanting me to argue and beg him to stay. Relief floods through me as he pauses only for a second before moving toward the door. His hand rests on the doorknob, but he turns back, expression solemn. “I’m never going to hurt you again, Grace.” The words…
“Because what they did to you was wrong. What Rafe did was wrong.” I stare at his profile, searching for the lie. “You never liked me.” “I never said I didn’t like you.” “You didn’t have to. It was pretty clear.” Andrew’s mouth twists. “It wasn’t about liking or not liking you, Grace.” “Then what…
I hesitate. “Is that okay?” “Sure. If you’re not tired.” He shrugs. “We can take ten minutes to look around.” It’s a little embarrassing to admit how much fun it is just to drift through aisles. I end up in haircare, drawn to a wall of colors and promises. My hair’s brown and boring, but…
As she begins sectioning my hair with plastic clips, I take in more details of the trailer. Beyond Andrew, there’s a bed piled high with mismatched pillows. Books stack precariously on every surface, and dried flowers hang upside down from the ceiling. “How long have you lived like this?” I ask, curious about this nomadic…
“It doesn’t matter. The girl will return to human society where she belongs, and that’s final.” Then why haven’t you sent her already? Why obsess over her injuries, her meals, her comfort? My jaw clenches. “I’m gathering information.” You’re stalling. “I’m being thorough!” You’re being a coward. A growl rips from my throat. The truth…
He knows. My heart pounds against my ribs. He knows something. “Do you…” The question sticks in my throat. I swallow hard and force the words past the knot. “Do you know about her? My mother?” His jaw works, muscles jumping beneath his skin. “It’s old history. Most in the region would know” He’s too…