The first thing she says to me when I open the door is, "So it's true," as her cat-like eyes survey my bruise. "I didn't get to see it. I was escorted out so quickly." I glance at Tarlo behind her. He doesn't look like he wants to step further than this. In the few seconds we have, Tarlo and I communicate through stares. He seems to ask: Will you be alright? And I say: Yes, you don't have to stay. "Please, come in," I tell Aurora. "I'll be close by," Tarlo insists then turns the other way, being a good Beta and friend to David. I know he wouldn't let anything bad happen-the same promise David makes to me. Aurora walks inside but we don't spend a moment too long in the foyer. I take her to the first living room; the one with a grand window that overse

I push off the bed and shed David's shirt, my mind blank as I wander to the bathroom. I listen-prey-like-for the sounds of people in the house, but I catch no footsteps or closing doors or knocks from upstairs. My body is naked from the waist up, and from the waist down, a pair of panties keep me as decent as an ancient woman, but I don't feel fearful that someone will barge in-that David will visit his own bedroom and see me like this. He never comes upstairs during the day. The kitchen, his office; it's all downstairs. This is my domain for me to saunter about the room as naked and as dejected as I please. Knowing that I will meet his father today, I dress nicely, summery. I tie my hair up off of my shoulders and step into a fitted, button-up dress with the most feminine feel and dearest buttons. When I button each one, I see David and his cuffs, striding into the room then placing my

I tug at the blanket around my naked body and say, "David, there's something I didn't tell you. Something I asked Tarlo to keep to himself as well. I'm assuming he kept his word and didn't mention anything about a visitor while you were with your father." I take his silence as a hint to continue. "It was Aurora. She came out of the blue and said she wanted to talk to me. She wanted the truth regarding what happened between Nicodra and me up North." David questions, "And you told her the truth?" "Yes. I did. And she wasn't mad about it. She didn't seem surprised at all. Aurora is very aware of how her mate can be." I swallow and say quietly, "He hurts her, David. She showed me a horrible bruise on her arm." He says something under

"Are you sure you can find your way? I can walk you back." "No, no," my mother says, "we remember the way. Don't worry. We'll see you tomorrow, okay?" "Breakfast will be brought over at seven. I know you two get up early." My mom strokes my cheek and says goodnight. I close and lock the door behind them, knowing that my mother and I aren't the same as we used to be. There's no need to fight anymore. She won't be knocking on my door, telling me to wake up, or egging me on about traveling to find my mate. She won't have to ignore my rants about being free, and so we'll enter the next stage; the one where I listen when she speaks. David enters the foyer to bring me upstairs, and I go with him. He stays close behind as I climb the ste

David enters the spare bedroom just as I leave the bathroom dressed for bed. The look on his face is immediate-he's regretful, sorry. I think I might be too for what I'm ready to say. He explains without need for my prompting, saying, "There was a situation with a guard. There was a rogue wolf in the area and it attacked him which is something we haven't had happen in a long time. We only see rogue wolves maybe once a month, and this happened out of nowhere. We had to track down the wolf, and I thought maybe I could still make it back in time, but obviously I've let you down." With my plans at the front of my mind, unaffected by his reasons, I wait until he speaks again. "What are you doing in here?" He asks. "I'm getting ready for bed. I'm-I thought I would sleep here tonight."