~ RIG ~As the two females, glittering and giggling, left my table, both casting glances at me over their shoulders, I smiled tightly and waved, waiting until they’d passed behind one of the big pillars in the cathedral-style ballroom before sitting back in my chair and clawing a hand through my hair.Fuck I hated these things.White tablecloths, chandeliers, snooty human servants bringing drinks and serving at the food table, everyone dressed in their finest and trying to out-handsome, or out-beautiful each other… Wolf gatherings were so stuck up and… political.I was the Alpha King’s heir, which meant every eye was on me, all the time. But especially tonight. Tonight they all knew they were competing for my attention, and my father’s app

~ CARA ~I went completely still. My entire body feeling like even the slightest touch or movement might shatter me into a thousand pieces.Rig gripped Natalie’s arms tightly. When he pulled back from the kiss, his face dark, for a moment my hope rose. Then it was plummeted to the marble floor beneath my feet as a deep voice called over the noise of the crowd.“It’s about time you two stopped playing games!”The entire crowd roared with laughter, whoops and whistles echoing through the ballroom as Rig turned his head quickly to look at the man who must be his father, but whose face was obscured by the people standing between us. But as his father spoke again—loud enough for everyone to hear—I couldn’t absorb any of it. I couldn&r

~ RIG ~“You bastard!”Forgetting Natalie completely, I launched myself across the room, towards Mack, only the tiniest voice in the back of my head screaming that Cara was there and I couldn’t show my wolf!A guttural snarl tore out of my throat and my hands clawed as I went for my oldest friend, who smirked.But Cara shoved Mack aside and stepped between us just as I reached for him and every instinct in my body yanked me to a halt. I couldn’t hurt my mate. Couldn’t touch her in anger.My chest heaved and rasped, “Get out of the way, Cara.”“Don’t tell me what to do you lying fucking cheater!” she shrilled.

~ CARA ~Something was wrong. Something was really, really wrong.As Charlie silently ushered me out of the hotel and into the parking lot, towards the massive, extended-cab truck that he drove, my entire body shook. And not just with tears.Oh, I was crying. But it was rage that shoved the tears over my lashes and down my cheeks, and fury that made my hands sweat.My head spun with it, and my chest was tight. I panted short, shallow breaths and my jaw was clenched so tight I was afraid I’d crack my teeth.I was furious.And heartbroken.And my

~ RIG ~I pulled my now sobbing sister into my chest and held her while she shook, trying desperately to stifle her cries so no one would hear her. But even as I stroked her hair and held her tightly, my mind spun and fear screamed through me.Was it possible she was right? Had she really uncovered the truth I hadn’t been able to find about our brother’s death?No. There was no way. No way our father would have killed Stephen. He had been our father’s pride and joy! Dad had never stopped bragging about him. I had always been so jealous…But then, as I turned the events of those weeks before Stephen’s death over in my head, the things that had always made me uneasy started to click together…