I watched the snowflakes drift down from the ever-darkening sky. The pack house was filled with people laughing and talking happily along with cheery holiday-themed music. It was a nice ambiance. So nice, I didn’t want to ruin it with my melancholy. The truth was, Christmas was one of the harder holidays for me. It didn’t matter how many years passed, all I thought about was Dad and how much I missed him. Hugging my knees to my chest, I rested my chin on them as I continued to watch the snow. The room was almost completely dark when the door behind me opened.“Figured I find you here,” Ryder said, taking a seat next to me. His scent washed over me as he laid an arm on my shoulder. He hugged me close, and I felt his body heat mingling with mine. It was a perfect sensation, and I felt a little better. “Everyone is wondering where you went off too.”

I lifted the cool glass to my lips, taking a slow drink of the soda as I watched the couple across the room. The crowd of party-goers blocked my view from time to time, but I didn’t mind. That meant less of a chance of me getting caught spying. I took another drink. I knew it was stupid, but I couldn’t help myself. I was jealous. It wasn’t because the woman was attractive or because of the way the guy couldn’t take his eyes off of her. It was their freedom. We’re the same age, give or take a year or two. While they got to flirt, party, and enjoy these brief years of new adulthood while I was trapped. Trapped in a life never meant to be mine by some cruel twist of fate.“Do you know him?” A masculine voice whispered over my shoulder. I gave a startled flinch. Finn laughed. He had caught me off guard and knew it. I shook my head as I turned to face him. Finn was in t

I sighed and wondered if being a leader was as stressful for my parents, or was it just me? “Let the rogues stew in thought for tonight, and I’ll deal with them in the morning. Offer them dinner and breakfast. Show them I can be kind, except for Cell 3-B. He’s allowed no kindness until I speak with him tomorrow.”“And Howe?” Koreyon asked.I should’ve expected that question, yet I hated he asked it all the same. “Until I figure out if he’s telling us the truth or not, he’ll receive the same treatment as the rogues.”“But he’s Michael Howe, an abusive son of a bitch. Just like—”I turned to him and gave him a stern glare. “I know very well who Michael Howe is, but he’s do

His bluntness took me, so by surprise I wasn’t sure what to say. He expected me to reject him? Something in me softened at that. “Is that what you want?”Michael laughed again, shaking his head. “Is that what I want? No one has given a damn what I wanted in my entire life, Peaches. Why start now?” His tone was bitter through his laughter.“Peaches?” I repeated. Where had that come from? He shrugged as a reply. I sighed and sat cross-legged on the floor. “I should reject you. It’s what everyone expects and might even insist. Your father’s cruel hand has hurt people even here.”“My father was a thorough man, if nothing else,” Michael replied, his voice dull and flat.“He was also strong and

“He came into my territory…” I started.“Is Mike causing trouble?” she asked. The shortening of his name in such a familiarity threw me a little and a hint of possessiveness stabbed at me.“No, not exactly,” I said, trying to regain my footing. “He got caught up in a rogue attack on my territory, but that’s not the reason for my call.” I took a deep breath, then continued. “Michael is my mate. I need to know more about him before I decide to reject or accept him. I figured who better to ask than you.”She looked at me like I was crazy. “Me? You are aware of our history, right?”“Of course. You’ve seen him at his worst and you gave him a second chance. There has to be a reason