“My excuse,” he grit out, “is that my Mate is shaking her ass for me.” “That’s all it takes?” I laughed breathily, looking over my shoulder with a look that said ‘I dare you.’ “I didn’t know you were so easy, Alpha Elroy.” Elroy pulled his hips back with a curse, and I bit my lip on an excited s
Elroy’s POV My fingers trembled as I loosened his tie, the camera flashes still burning behind my eyelids. The press conference had been a crucible, every word scrutinized, every gesture analyzed. But I’d done it. Olivia made it look so easy—definitely a talent I didn’t have. I’d stood tall as t
“Luna Olivia is correct,” I admitted begrudgingly, even though I just wanted to wring these ancient fools’ necks once and for all. “That said, I will remind this council that investigating without bias means taking all facts into consideration, including Rita’s personal vendetta against my Mate.”
Olivia’s POV Elroy was the first to find words to say to me, and those words were "Olivia, what the hell are you doing?” I hated the way his condemnation felt like an ice block in my chest, heavy and uncomfortable, and making me want to just agree with whatever he said so we wouldn’t have to fight
The weight of what I'd just done crashed over me like a tidal wave. My breath came in short, sharp gasps. "Hey, slow down," Astor said, catching up and gently grasping my arm. "Are you okay?" I turned to face him, my vision blurring. I tried to focus on his face, but panic clawed at my throat. M
I was exhausted. I’d heard people say they were bone-tired, but this went deeper than my bones. It was like my panic had reached inside of me and sapped something vital straight out of my soul, leaving me less than a whole person should be. Once the worst had passed, Elroy picked me up and carried
I shook my head, feeling torn. “I know I have to do better,” I said, “but a full day? We were so close to a breakthrough, and the victims can’t afford to just wait--” “If the situation were any different I’d be ordering you to take three days of bedrest and stay out of the office for a week in tot
Sunlight streamed through the gauzy curtains, warming my face. I blinked groggily, stretching my arms above my head as consciousness slowly returned. I’d told Elroy I needed a nap, and clearly I was right about that given how much better I felt already. I let myself come to slowly, then turned to
Elroy POVAs we ran, I felt more powerful than I ever had before, and the feeling was so heady I could almost understand how some alphas fell prey to its corruption.But along with that new power came an increase in my balance and in my self-awareness. I knew it was because of Olivia at my side, fly
“First, please, why was Louisa talking about how you were kidnapped? You think she was lying?”I waved the question away. “Louisa only lies when she’s talking. Obviously, she’s trying to con me into something, but I’m not going to waste my time listening to her.I could tell Elroy wanted to keep tal
Olivia POVLouisa stared at me, but while I tried to look back at the actual woman speaking to me, all I truly saw was my bully, the woman giggling in delight as she slept with my fiancé, and the person who had tried to take everything from me. I wanted to challenge her to combat, transform, and bre
How could I explain myself to her now? How could I ever make up for my actions?The door to the antechamber opened, and a young servant walked in. I had made a study of Olivia’s life in the palace since her wedding, and I knew the servant’s name was Jordan.I stood, and Jordan looked at me with impa
Louisa POVI sat in some anonymous antechamber in the palace and basically felt like shit.I was young, but I’d had many experiences. I’d run with the pack under a full moon. I’d attended, and excelled at, Lunaris’s top schools. I’d challenged an alpha who wouldn’t respect my space, and I won, thoug
Elroy POV“Your political affiliation with a woman you ‘married’ while she was unconscious is of no concern to this council,” Elder Juarez scoffed.“Moonshadow holds a proxy marriage as binding,” Greg said.“But I don’t,” Olivia told him. “The thought of the political power you exerted over me is si
Olivia POVIris and I rode back to the palace in a car Elroy sent to the Moonshadow Keep at dawn. Rodin was with us because Iris refused to leave him behind.It would have been different if the beta actually had a passion for cooking or dreams of being a chef, but once Iris told him he’d make an exc
Olivia POVI had achieved a kind of patience while waiting for Iris to finish her analysis. Rodin was quietly helpful, and Brady had returned from her errand to organize getting Iris whatever equipment she needed.I was so impressed watching her. How nice it would be to have a demonstrable skill, so
Elroy POVHer room was empty, but that didn’t alarm me at first. There were many places throughout the palace where she could be reading or napping or hosting a return visit from one of the pack leaders.But even as I walked the halls, I knew she was doing none of these things. I could feel her miss