'S

bed while he showered. Now I was about to wa

gton Company. The tall glass building was enough

t as best I could. "Amy, you can do this,

as far better than that of the Rainwood Wellington Company. I

pha Richard Wellington." I added, in a l

The Alpha is waiting

elevator up. His office is on the

, still

Derek? Or with my mother? Had he pr

as imp

me before I'd ever given it. I had been

hut, I let out a shaky breath and press

He's a man you slept with once,

to life, carrying me higher and higher. Maybe it was my imagi

, twenty-seventh, until the lift

loor: a massive double door at the end of a dimly lit hallway, and sitting just out

ary. As soon as he saw me, he sto

, Miss Hart." He smiled and m

ped inside, my gaze landing at

hrough a file as if he weren't aware of my presence, when he ha

flicked up from the pa

sed, as if he hadn't woken up alone this morning. His suit was perfectly fitted, the top button of his shirt

smoothly, in that deep voice. "You

" I bowed slightly, mostly so I

you weren'

id carefully, "was

his mouth tilted, just

raight and confident despite

coffee?"

er. I'

picked up the telecom. "Sen

. How did he know

ck, watching me with something close to a

k. But my main reason is that he and his family always looked down on me and ridiculed me, because my mother was the late Alp

t. This wa

at he wanted instead of what I needed. A man like

ejected him, and he hasn't accepted it. If I marry you instead, the family that looked down on you watches you take the one thing they

time, Richar

lips curled. "You're pretty straightforward.

ime for that. My mother needs an emergency

wly and walk

iate Derek and his family with a single phone call.

g was the sting: the look on their faces when the heir's fa

ded him d

ed away alone, I would be the one people laughed at: my friends, my high-school classmates, t

man, and then telling me to stop being wi

d him t

I needed, I could borrow it from Derek. I could go back to the loan sharks, who wouldn

even a fraction of what I'd felt when I walked in on him.

Richard. If he wasn't going to

and the look on their faces," I sai

truth, or s

closer again. His eyes narrowed, and the air between us

to stay still,

opped directly in front of me and lean

h grazed my skin and sent an involuntary shiver down my

slightly. "Wha

face level with mine, o

he murmured. "My money,

t I shook my head. No

" I said, my voice steady and my hands c

rriage is what you'll get. No feeli

, and my wolf hadn't stopped purring since. A second time and I wouldn't be able to pr

, I need you to understand this, sweetheart. Last night

e body s

you whenever I want. If you can accept that, I'll make sure Derek grovels at your

g my reaction before he

back to school and pursue

ndered as I

ing I needed. Everyth

back to school, focus on my studies, and graduate without worrying about money. And

e stupid t

his? Could I turn last

heart pound. After what felt like forever, I

e head-on. "Fine. I ac

ne, perhaps looking for hesitation or regret. When he fo

ehind my ear. His fingers grazed my skin, leaving a trail of heat

ing I shouldn't be feeling. But I cou

with you? You shouldn't want

nded in my head. "His scent and domineering aura

out. Since when did

re getting married today," Richard

oday? That's too so

s voice firm but not unkind. "I don't see the po

rocess all of this. My mother is in the hospital. She needs to g

ed up his phone. I watched as he scrolled through his

ing. "I need you at the City Hospital immediately. There's a patient there, Emily Ha

horacic surgeon in New York. I'd read about him in magazines. He operated

Dr. Matth

t is the mother of my Luna. She should be treated as VIP. The surgery must be a success wit

now," he answered. "Also, congr

ore turning to me with a satisfied smirk. "Your mother will be in

than two minutes, Alpha Richard had arranged for the best surgeon in the

d you do that?

you, Amy. I have more money and power than Derek could ever

his. His palm was warm and calloused, a sta

my stomach and Lexie purred in my hea

mate uncle and this is just for a year. Y

nted to see your mother

h me?" I raised m

mother in-law, of cour