hina'

ony and pulled the glas

tightened around the phone. The cold wind made my voice s

milio died during the fight at the border because rogues ambushed him. That's not what happened... Someone lured h

rop of blood in my body

n a strained voice. "The poison doesn't cause immediate death, but it weakens a wolf until shifting beco

g like that?" I asked through clench

other was still broken and vuln

ction. When they married, she brought th

ssly took the position o

d to hear. On the night before the ambush, I personally saw your stepfather meeting Harold Clayton, Brayden's

mbled backward until my spine s

, the Claytons, had also taken

den my identity to protect our marriage. Had every part of it bee

Dizziness swept over me, and my

turn it over to you, but I need enough money to escape. More

Guild's highest protection immediately. You don't need to worry about money, and I'll arrange for someone to b

crowded cit. A colder feeling than anythin

ing and supporting Brayden had

for that man, yet his family might have

door and joined me outside with concern across

"Elianna, breaking the mating bond is no longer the only

ept the rest

this place," I sa

a private gallery near the corner, she gently suggested, "Ms. Harper, they're holding a modern art exhibit i

ved in a s

eful to process the revelations that threaten

red past the artwork without any direction until a pain

vas, and its style reminded me of the

fore I reached toward the plaque on

d covered the plaque just be

voice spoke beside me, though its

whose face was half-covered in bandages. Even the

tood be

yden-his very presen

because thick gauze still covered it. All those bandag

obvious affection and presse

"Brayden thought I needed a break after everything I've suffered lately, so he brought me here to relax. Thi

onclaw Pack's council hall," as though she wanted t

fly crossed his eyes. His familiar sc

my loose trench coat before

. His voice carried the chill of a criminal interrogation. "Was that nonsense about ending our mating bond only an