pulse

oice rang out, low and un

Ster

Royal Pack, and through it, every pack in the North bent the knee to him. He wa

en years separated them, but

y would the Alpha Ki

years before and groomed him as a potential heir. But Damon himself h

hless. Un

erence and fear. "He doesn't care about anyone," Victor had sai

t barely. His wolf, Ragnar, was critically injured in the final battle, wounded so badly that

a death sentence for

lding his empire, expanding his reach until he controlled hal

ow, app

ue eyes were unreadable, but they held her in place,

d again, his voice droppi

epped

thick and electric. He didn't sit. Instead, he stood by the window, hands i

urned to

ictor," he said

r for less than twenty-four hours. How did he alr

th a spoiled heir, he'd come to clean up his son's mess. To m

I'll cling to him, don't be. Victor and I ar

readable. "Miss Bennett, I'm not here f

e his coat and set it on the cof

sheard. "Alpha Damon

mon said. "I imagine you've heard the rumors. The Elder Council

choose me?

ers a beat too long

igent. Beautiful. Well-educated, with an impressive resume. And I'm interested in you. I a

t gave a h

t of cedar and winter air clinging to his coat. "I'm offering you a partnership. A mutually beneficial arrangement. You get

gret it. The tho

t be Luna." She couldn't help asking, "If I were

would be my responsibility. Your safety. Your well-being. Your future. An Alpha who can't protect his

lasped them together to hid

dropped lower. "Then I'll respect your decision

able. "Read the contract. You'll f

shaking hands and flipped it o

s monthly

Sterling Hold

lishing her own a

my over her pro

absurd. It was more tha

ached the claus

ilities of a traditional mate bond, including but not limited to shared living

up at Damon, who was watching h

ry direct,

t clinical. "I can restrain myself or take care of things on my own before marriage.

e came out smaller than she intended. "We're ten year

ment crossing his face. "So you're saying y

ed her cheeks. How did every conversation w

hed the flush spread across her

ngerous. "Age has nothing to do with stamina. Experience, on the other

to step back, but the edge of the

m. He didn't touch her, but his prese

rs. "A marriage contract doesn't mean I'll demand anything fro

He was better than Victor in every way. All she had to

rs older than her. A man she barely knew. A ma

l relationship. The gap in stat

t wor

f Stella's smug expression as she clung to his arm.

n't stand running into Victor at pack events. The humiliati

of the contract

ndence. A title.

d she