a P

yone

ise his voice. H

. Mr. Jennings's knees literally buckled. Maggie grabbed the wall. Jenna went white. Every wol

e only person in the room who hadn't mo

n I

way, gasping, when so

red. "I'm sorry. I'm in a terrible hurry. The Elder just asked me to bring his car around, and Mr. Shaw n

back. "Mr. Reyes, I

, but he'd recovered enough to glare at me. "Help

elevator. Jenna gave me a look over her

ank you. Just wait right by the door. He'

osed. The hallw

. It stood open about two inch

Easy, friendly. "Boys will be boys. But a wolfless girl? An e

on. "You shouldn't have sai

the floor, a sharp crack that made me

was a

ue," Luc

couldn't keep his hands off the help didn't lead a pack. He led a ditch.

le it, Gra

t," the Elder re

f pressure. Maybe it's too much, too soon. Simon is back from Europe now. Jonathan wants him in the company

ucian's half-brother, the so

me," Julian added. "He

ian's own father wa

When the Elder spoke again

ercrest that night. Lucian, if you stand in front of that Council unmated, wi

ood," Lu

. As if they hadn't just put

standing in the hallway with the folders

id

d now his own family was lining up

prised to find me standing there in exactly the same spot. He took the

have left

"You know. About me

smiled. "Would you prefer th

e cracked. "How b

e closed office door, then back

n for years. Julian has half the board. And now they've got the photo." He paused. "Mr. Shaw told me not

ays of

y sharpened their knives, a

or into the cold. I stood on the sidewalk and looked up at the tower

lars. My loans.

red reasons to throw me

of my pocket. I dialed bef

ang

ha

closed my eye

. "Miss

I said. "I'l

the line went on for so long tha

is voice was lower t

rs, Nora. The contract