ELIZABETH MILKHART“Please-” I croaked, beating desperately against the tall Luna’s hard chest as darkness surged in my vision before a woman’s shrill voice made her drop me instantly.“Your Grace!” Theresa shrieked as I tumbled to the floor, catching only a glimpse of the fear in her reddened face before pain exploded in the side of my head as I hit the ground. HARD.“Miss Milkhart! I-Is everything alright?!” Theresa wheezed, rushing over to kneel beside me with her soft hands moving comfortingly inside my hair.I gasped, tears filling my vision as I scrambled away from the woman who towered above me like a wraith, her narrowed hazel eyes and long blonde hair billowed around her shoulders like waterfalls.“Listen to me, Elizabeth Milkhart, because I will only repeat this over your grave.” Cassandra Blackwood hissed, pointing one crooked black claw at me as a scream lodged in my throat.“You will not see MY husband outside of the council’s permission, do you understand? And no jewelry

ALPHA EZRA BLACKWOODBlood roared in my ears as I pounded my way into my royal chambers with the Luna of Blackwood snapping at my heels.“That was too far, Cassandra-” I started, whirling to face the tall blonde woman and watching her face redden even more as the dark arched brows drew together on her head.Her exquisite, ball gown had come undone at her shoulders, exposing the rounded white curves that made my groin tighten with lust.She looked wild, with platinum blonde hair falling down her back in straight sheets and her full red lips turned down distastefully. She did not look like my wife at all.“TOO FAR?! You were all but fucking here right there in the open for everyone to see Ezra Blackwood! Do you know how much of a disgrace that is as your wife?! Have you forgotten your duty to me-” She screamed, pointing at the empty doorway behind us.Me? Disgrace her? Her words sparked a dark fury inside me that made my vision blur and I was pinning her against the wall before I realiz

ALPHA EZRA BLACKWOODThere were tears in the redhead’s eyes as she stumbled into the room.Had Cassandra done something already? The breath I inhaled burned my throat as the maiden surrogate sputtered helplessly, her despair clutching at my chest in a way that made heat swell in my groin.Fucks sake- What the fuck was wrong with me? I shouldn't be caring about her feelings, and yet here I was, wrapping my hands around her and whispering comfortingly like a fucking saint.I was a damned hypocrite and I knew it.“Elizabeth,” I breathed, trying to calm her hysterics but my voice only seemed to renew her efforts to claw at my chest desperately. Her skin felt soft under my hands, and I had to bite back the urge to sink my teeth into her flesh. To taste her salty skin, the full pink pout of her lips…damn it! What was wrong with me?The maiden’s face was frightened as she rambled on about not being ready, flailing her hands wildly and sucking in a deep breath when I caught her tightly by t

ELIZABETH MILKHARTI opened and closed my mouth wordlessly as the Luna’s words cut through me like a sword.She thought I was wild?! Tears burned the back of my throat at the subtle insult. “There were six of us women Elizabeth, all masked, dancing for the King. It had been terrifying you know? All the intensity of that dark gaze focused on you,” She whispered, shivering in thought and I blushed deeply.I knew exactly what she was talking about. The way the King had stared at me the other night… like I was the only living thing in his world.I could get lost in a man like that. Lost and broken.“Then…then what happened?” I dared to ask, my heart pounding hard inside me when her eyes narrowed on my face and she turned away from the window, dwarfing me with her tall body.“Then, silly human, he chose me. Of course he did. I captivated him even closed up and masked as I was. The King told me there would never be another woman like me. His Sandra.” She gritted through clenched teeth, an

ELIZABETH MILKHARTI realized my hands were shaking when I folded them back into my lap, carefully keeping my face expressionless, the way Blackwood wolves always did.Theresa’s cold fingers pressed the jewels into my scalp wordlessly, as I studied her small, oval face in the mirror, wondering if I dared speak of my concerns.The quiet handmaiden had grown to become my friend but I had to be careful what I said to her from now on. It was unlikely she wouldn’t report my “fake mating” with the King to the elders.“Was the King gentle on your first night with him, M’lady?” The maid asked suddenly and for a minute I felt my back stiffen.Why the hell was she asking me that AGAIN?!I was careful to keep my expression blank, aware that her small black eyes were completely focused on my face in the mirror’s reflection.What was Blackwood turning me into?“Oh, yes! Certainly, His Highness was very kind,” I muttered, flashing the woman a tight smile and feeling my heart sink when she didn't sm