Adrian turned and started toward the door. I looked around for a hiding place, finding a nearby pillar. I rushed behind it, peeking out to see Adrian's officials leaving the meeting hall with angry faces. They didn't notice me and walked past.

Then I paused. "Wait a minute! Why am I even hiding?" I wondered. Was it because I'd told Beta Patric that my brother wouldn't humiliate anyone and would make fair decisions? He'd done the opposite.

My eyes widened as someone grabbed my hand and pulled me from behind the pillar. It was Adrian.

He began dragging me away. I frowned but didn't yell; I was afraid of damaging my brother's reputation. He brought me to a corner, some distance from the meeting hall.

"What are yo—"

He shoved me against the wall and glared. "How could you stand there and listen to my humiliation? You didn't even try to stop him."

I was stunned. How did he know I was there? His awareness of my presence in the hall made my brows lift. Was it my scent?

"Why would I intervene?" I asked, shrugging.

He frowned. "Do you know why I controlled my anger while your brother ranted? It was because of you. I thought you'd enter the hall, and" He paused, shaking his head in disappointment.

"Excuse me? Why would I do that for you?"

His sharp eyes fixed on me. "So you don't care how I felt in there?"

I was dumbfounded. What was he talking about? Why should I care?

"You've lost your mind, Adrian Miller. Why would I care? Who are you to me?"

He seemed speechless. I had no idea why I was even talking to him.

I tried to move, but he placed his hands on either side of my head, as he had at the Storm Forest Pack party. I feared a repeat of that incident.

"If you do that again, I will—"

"Claw me?" he scoffed.

His mockery made me pause. His words reminded me of the night he'd helped me in the forest—when I'd clawed him. I wondered why he was so calm about it, why he hadn't asked for a cure.

"I planned an alliance with your pack as my first step. But what did your brother do? He rejected me to my face."

Bitterness was evident in his eyes. I couldn't maintain eye contact, so I averted my gaze and replied, "You deserved it."

He moved closer, and I shifted away.

"My father invited you to stay at our pack house. That's how my family treated you. Even after my divorce, they showed you affection. But your brother mocked and taunted me constantly, as if I were not Alpha, but just another pack member."

His words annoyed me. I pushed him, surprising him. I glared and spoke my mind: "My brother was absolutely right. I'd been waiting for this day. Your family treated me well because I showed them love. But my"

I didn't finish. He leaned in and kissed me. I tried to push him away, but he held my hands behind my back, pressing me against him as he pulled me closer. I struggled. His hands tightened, his lips moved on mine, bringing back memories of years ago, when my rage had wanted him again. My body calmed, my eyes almost changed color, my claws extended, digging into his chest. The pain and the kiss merged. He lowered his head, his eyes darkened. The claws made him wince. His eyes softened as he gazed at me again. "You gave me so many wounds, darling. Let me give you one." Before I could react, he kissed me again, biting my lower lip. I hissed; I tasted blood. He released my lips and glared. His face was ablaze with rage. I touched my lip, finding blood on my fingertip. I grabbed his collar and glared. "How dare you do that without my permission?"

He glared back. "I don't need anyone's permission to touch you. No one can stop me, not even you."

(The final sentence about a sale is unrelated and has been omitted.)