ALPHA COLTON "Be sure to send the email to Grimsby before noon." I instructed Ron with my gaze not leaving the work on my computer but my fingers gesticulated to the draft I had crafted the day before. Ron glinted at me as though to be sure he was reading the contents of the draft just right. "You're calling this deal off?" His tone was clipped with bewilderment. "Yeah, so?" I sounded detached and clinical. "It's barely a week." "Send the email and keep your eyes out for a response." I dismissed him. There were a couple of important meetings scheduled for today but the most important was the meeting with the council to let them know I was calling off the deal. There had to be a way around it. I could think discreetly now. I cleared the work on my computer, found my jacket from the holder, and waltzed to the conference hall. The occupants of the hall stood briefly with stiff nods as I got in. My gaze didn't need to wander around the conference hall to spot Jace's
ALLISON KEELERI stood unblinking, trying to process what Phoebe was saying to me. "Did you not say Alpha Grimsby's your pup's father?" Her eyes searched my face. My eyes slammed shut as though to brace myself from the ongoing rumors. I had said it was an Alpha. Grimsby wasn't the only Alpha in the kingdom. But why would Phoebe take the lid off my secret… too soon?"So you did tell people I'm pregnant." I stared at her as though awaiting an explanation. The weight of her actions settled heavily on me causing my head to hang, my gaze remained on my toes as I gulped at the growing lump in my throat. "I was only looking out for you, I had no idea, Payton, that blabbermouth was going to sing it like a canary." She sounded genuine. " So you did tell someone...""I needed her to help me convince the nurse to keep this private. You're going to need vitamins and supplements to get you and your baby healthy." Phoebe took my hands and gave them a quick squeeze. "I was only looking out fo
ALLISON KEELER The next morning was surprisingly sunny, but my anxiety made it hard to enjoy the sunlight. I had the morning off duty because I needed to look my best before Hornsgate Pack's Elders. I didn't know why, but my nerves were reeling. I threw up about three times that morning before I felt at ease. I caught my reflection in the mirror, bruises on my neck and cheeks from Grimsby's assaults the night before. I brushed down my auburn hair to conceal it. I got into the only piece of clothing I had. The one I wore here. Stepping into the clothes and my hair down, I looked different. I looked bolder and more beautiful. But the unsettling feelings in my stomach made me feel sick. There was a soft knock at the door. I went to get the door only to see Phoebe there with a broad smile on her face. I was a bit relieved. I stepped aside so she could get in. She gawked at me in disbelief. "There's no way you're scrubbing the floor in that outfit!" She cocked a brow at
ALLISON KEELERMy heart thumped erratically as I stood before the scrutinizing gazes of the elders of Hornsgate in the vast auditorium. This was one of the umpteen times I wished I possessed a strong wolf that could read minds. This was one of the moments I wanted the ground to swallow me all up. But it didn't. "I can't sense her Luna aura." A white-haired elder cast a skeptical eye my way, "The Westerners are dubious, Colton is a cunning vicious wolf." "There's no proof she's Colton's mate, not when all I can sense is the runt energy." Another elder spoke.The elders deliberated on whether Colton tricked them or not, Grimsby's gaze was heavy on my face with a smirk splayed on his face. He didn't look like he was ready to clear the air. He didn't let Faye into the building. Whatever threat he had on her to keep her off this meeting had worked. Without the pecan-haired Luna, things were much easier. "Do you understand the consequences of lying to the entire council of elders?" The
ALLISON KEELER "And I thought you were beautiful." Matt glanced my way with a soft grin and added, "You look more beautiful when you smile."I looked away from the sundae in my hand and offered him a radiant smile."There's a reason why you're kind to me both in words and deeds." I looked at the melting strawberry sundae in his hand as we walked toward the booth, "You don't like that?"He merely glanced at it with a negligible shrug."You can have it." He stretched it my way. I flashed him a brazen gaze as I went for his share of the ice cream. It was worth it. It tasted better than I had ever imagined."Do you think I'm being greedy?" I jested. He pulled out a seat for me in the booth. I settled into it watching him take a seat from me. "Can I ask you something?" I started licking the ice cream nervously. "If it's the trails out of Hornsgate, I don't have a reply." My jaws dropped and my eyes were on him. He just read my mind. "Supposed I was crazy enough to want to escape thi
ALLISON KEELERMr. Smith paused mid-sentence seeing me scurry into the hall going straight away to fix myself in the row of the well-groomed girls. I had woken up too tired, my stomach had churned in ways that rendered me weak, my headache persisted and my morning fever had made me sob. I had waited until I felt a bit better before reluctantly getting out of bed to begin my day. Yes, I was pretty clumsy that morning and if I thought Mr. Smith was going to let it slide then I was mistaken. Gravely mistaken."You're late!" He spelled it out with his staff tapping the floor. "I don't feel good," I replied honestly. I was barely holding up, I felt so lightheaded. "Can I at least take the day off?"Mr. Smith stared at me like I had lost my mind. It didn't matter to me, all that did matter to me was feeling better. I needed some rest. "I got a report from Maggie that you didn't sign up for duty two days ago. You missed two days in a row." His cold voice spoke. A few girls grumbled at t
ALLISON KEELERThe search for Faye's diamond ring continued, stretching out from my room. I locked my room on my way to have the laundry done. The goddess had saved me from the evil plot. Now I knew just how to count my enemies. That didn't mean I was off the hook. Karla still dropped a few hints here that I must've hidden it somewhere. Yes, I hid it somewhere. I saw the ring.I had no idea when Phoebe had slipped the ring into one of my pillows, the one she'd probably suspected I didn't get to touch often but the goddess was solidly beside me. My hands had aimlessly wandered and felt the odd object in the pillow that morning as I slept in. It wasn't until I took the pillowcase off did I realize it was an expensive diamond ring, one that hadn't been there when I changed the sheets and pillowcases the previous morning. My brain cells acted quickly to get the ring from my possession. I went further to sweep the entire room, closet, and bathroom clean of any inexplicable material. L
ALLISON KEELER"Where did you hide it?" I whirled around to see Karla's glares piercing through to my soul. What now?I took off the iron from the linen I had been pressing all noon, I waited so she could empty her guts and leave. She didn't. "That's a pretty expensive ring and Phoebe confirmed she left it in your room." She started towards me by the pressing board. "What are you talking about?" I feigned innocence. "Faye's ring." Her glares softened, and her hands found her hips in an akimbo style. "It wasn't found in your room because you must've taken it out." "I didn't take anything out, what are you talking about?" I tried not to snicker at the confusion on her face. "You're saying you didn't see the cushion-cut diamond ring in your pillows?" She let out a dry chuckle, "You've got to be kidding me!""Faye doesn't deserve this," I muttered under my breath going back to get the pressing done. "Excuse me?" She grabbed my arm and vigorously twirled me around to face her. "Wh