“Doctor, we don't have any idea who this person is,” the nurse protested.I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin. This wasn't the time to be submissive or hesitant.“I can heal him,” I said, “and if you don't let me try he will die.”“She's right,” the doctor said. “We're out of time and options.
TessaOn my half-sister Eva's wedding night, she shoved me into the luxurious suite prepared for the newlyweds and threatened, "Bear a pup for my husband."I struggled in her grip. She pressed my face hard into the bed.“No!” I protested, desperately trying to wriggle out of her grip. I didn't dare
TessaEva's cold gaze sent a chill down my spine. I ducked my head and scurried back to the laundry room. Her vicious grin haunted me as I tried to return to my studies.I kept quiet about what I'd seen in Eva's room. I didn't dare make trouble during the preparations for her wedding. My mother's li
Leo left the wedding party without growling or snapping at any of his new in-laws. It was something of a struggle. They were just so much.The Alpha, Arthur, was growing weak with age and complacency. He was desperate to hide it. So he blustered and postured.Even injured, Leo was a threat to his po
TessaMaybe time was finally fading the scar. That would be nice. I was tired of remembering Eva's attack every time I looked into a mirror.I met my own eyes in the glass. For just a moment, they looked gold, not green. Must've been a trick of the light.My eyes wandered down, and I saw a shadow at
Tessa“What?” Eva shrieked.“Yes, it is wonderful,” the healer said, misinterpreting Eva's response. “Right now he can distinguish light and dark, I estimate his full vision could return within a few days!”Annette and Eva stared at the healer in horror, but the healer only saw surprise. Arthur past
How could I possibly smell like Leo? We'd been together one time, days ago.Oh.The pup. He was smelling our pup on me.I thought that was just old stories, that alphas could smell things like that. Certainly Alpha Arthur never showed that kind of awareness of his wolves. But Leo was a different kin
My mind raced, and my heart pounded so hard I was surprised Leo didn't hear it.I kept my voice calm and steady, though. Eva was always confident. So I had to pretend to be confident, too.“I wasn't sure whether I should knock,” I said. “I didn't want to presume.”“You're my wife,” Leo protested.“W
“Doctor, we don't have any idea who this person is,” the nurse protested.I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin. This wasn't the time to be submissive or hesitant.“I can heal him,” I said, “and if you don't let me try he will die.”“She's right,” the doctor said. “We're out of time and options.
Finally, it was my chance. I was so excited I could barely contain it.My work was done. I wasn't expected to spend the night with Leo. No one would be looking for me until morning.I could sneak out and find my mother.I had to hide my identity. I was just a half-blood, but people would recognize A
“I'm fine,” I insisted as I looked up into Leo's eyes. “I worked too hard, maybe. I should get to my rooms. Work starts early in the morning.”“Are you certain?” he asked.I nodded. “I'm sure.”“Okay. If you're sure. May I walk you to your room?”I would rather he didn't so I could get to the archiv
Sudden, powerful cramps made me double over in pain. Was something wrong with the baby? It was moving a moment ago. But it was too soon, wasn't it? I frantically ran through everything I'd learned about pregnancy in werewolves.Mostly it was the same as for a human. It had to be similar, otherwise I
I had been ordered to scrub the dining hall floors. According to Eva and Annette, mopping wasn't enough. They had to shine, and only scrubbing the floors on my hands and knees would do it.With no warning, Eva stomped through the door and kicked the bucket of soapy water over. I stared up at her. Sh
“Oh, her,” Leo said. Something about that maid unsettled him.“Uh huh. Be careful around that one,” Eva added. “She's always scheming. She doesn't like her place in the pack but instead of putting in the work to earn a better one she just tries to tear down other people. It's really sad and pathetic
“What do you mean?” I asked.Eva shrugged and tilted her head as she studied me.“Leo's wolf went wild last night. He barely held it back from hurting me.” She shrugged. “That's why I came and switched with you. I figured it was better for him to rip you apart than his actual wife, right?”I stared
I slipped out of the bed, careful not to wake the sleeping Alpha. It seemed like the voice was coming from outside, in the corridor. I followed, tiptoeing out of the room.I ended up back in my own room, facing my tiny bathroom mirror. I stared in shock at the face it revealed.There were no scars.
I winced at Leo's wistful tone. His offer of protection sounded so genuine it hurt. I wished that offer was for me, not Eva.But the truth was he was married to Eva, the Alpha Daughter of Arthur's pack, and he despised Tessa, the scarred maid. I had nothing but these stolen moments. It was wrong to