But before this, she was being blackmailed by someone. That leads me to believe that she didn’t want him to inform Darien that they were mated, but that someone else did.That is a fairly low blow for a pack leader, I agree. Was the other guy she was matched to high up in the chain, Silva asked, her eyes widening.Lelandi disregarded the query. He drinks excessively and is abusive. I… I desired for my family to depart—to locate my brother. To establish a new home. But, they would not.Her hand was patted by Silva. “Ties to the pack too strong?” Lelandi remained silent. They weren’t connected to the usurpers’ pack. Merely a link to the landYet it wasn’t a smart idea to divulge too much. Like she hadn’t before.She didn’t answer, so Silva picked up the slack. Darien said he would send you back to your pack. But I believe he has changed his mind because of the way he kissed you. Do you really want to go back to them?Lelandi became agitated. “My parents were murdered! I’m not coming bac

“Thank you, but no.”“Good,” I say. He prepared to speak, but quickly shut his mouth.She began to become bothered by whatever was disturbing him. She imagined he wanted to question her because he appeared fixed to the carpeted area adjacent to the bed.“Doc’s orders,” he replied, casting a glance down at the cover that was drawn up to her chin. “We have to change your bandages every four hours.”While with others, Lupus garous were not timid. So why did she have anxiety? A thin layer of goosebumps appeared on her skin. Perhaps as a result of his worried behavior. It was not a big deal because Silva had already changed her bandages twice earlier in the day. So when the male gray leader wanted to alter them, it felt like a big problem. Silva charged in like she had been trained as a nurse before she started working as a server, like she knew what she was doing. Perhaps it was because he was waiting for her to say it was okay doing and was unafraid to do it. Or perhaps it was because ev

More angry than ever, he raked his hands through his hair. He didn’t get out of bed until he heard two sets of footsteps moving toward his bedroom. Slow, deliberate, and unhurried steps. At this hour, it would have to be an emergency for someone to bother him, but the footfall suggested otherwise. Similar to an assassin’s cunning attempt to enter a building unnoticed. He opened his bedside drawer with his hand and took the revolver out.The approaching steps halted at his door. Whoever they were seemed to be considering their options for a very long time. He thought about instructing them to finish doing whatever it was they came for so he could take care of them. Then there was a faint knock on the door. The doorknob turned before he had a chance to reply, and Jake gently pulled the door open. With her red hair hanging past her hips and her gaze locked on him, Lelandi stood in the doorway wearing Darien’s plaid shirt.Sleepwalking, just as Tom does when he’s too exhausted. Tom claime

DARIEN’S entire body went numb as he stared at Larissa’s letter in disbelief. He reread the note in an effort to decipher its hidden significance.He got up from his seat and left the eating area. How was he able to be so blind? Had the woman he had been with another man before? Who? He’d murder him.Darien couldn’t recall entering his office or sitting down at his desk. Jake! He yelled as he glared at the letter and clenched it.Jake walked into the office sporting a perplexed expression.“Bring Lelandi in right away.”Jake’s brows furrowed, he gave a brief nod, and then he shut the door.A minute later, Tom came in, his eyes wild. “Darien, what’s wrong? Jake claims you are prepared to murder someone. To let me in on the small conversation to let me in on the small talk to filling me in on the little talk about the“No.”“But—”“No!”Tom nodded for a short moment as his neck muscles tensed. “You’re in charge.”Lelandi was invited into the space by Jake. Her eyes suddenly darted from

Lelandi intended to push Darien away, but she tentatively caressed his waist instead. She wanted to pull off his shirt and caress every inch of him while he touched her, just like the man had done with her in her dream. She checked to be sure he wasn’t the dreamy figure.But between her legs, liquid heat collected, and fire filled her stomach. No Lupus Garou had ever grinned so seductively, and no Lupus Garou had ever ignited her blood the way he did.“It’s…” She intended to inform him that it wasn’t proper. He only desired to rediscover the love he had previously shared with her sister. He didn’t genuinely want her.But he put his hand over her mouth to silence her protests. Greedily, hungrily, and blatantly kissed her as if she were the last woman on world and he had been without a woman for years.Her breathing became faster. She recognized his feel, hardness, power, and the delicate way he caressed her and claimed her now that she was no longer in agony or taking medication that m