Annis POV:
I woke up to the smell of bleach and dust.
I was alive. Unfortunately.
I was in a recovery room-no, a storage closet converted into a holding cell.
I tried to sit up, but my head swam. My arm was bruised black and blue.
Haven? I projected the thought, praying the Mind-Link still worked.
Annis! His voice exploded in my head. I'm at the border. I'm coming to burn that place to the ground.
No, I replied weakly. Not yet. I need my papers. If I run now, he hunts me as a fugitive. I need to leave legally.
The door opened. Dominick walked in. Fresh suit. Clean hair. He didn't look like a man who had almost murdered his wife.
"You're awake," he said flatly.
"Did she live?"
"Yes. She is glowing. The doctor said your blood worked miracles. Faster than anything he's seen."
He frowned, puzzling over it. He didn't know White Wolf blood was practically ambrosia.
"Where is my rejection letter?"
He threw a manila envelope onto the bed. "Signed. You are no longer Reyes. You have one hour to vacate."
I opened it. My hands shook, but I signed. Snap.
The pack link-the mental web connecting me to him-vanished. The silence was deafening. And beautiful.
"Good," I said.
I grabbed my bag.
I walked out of the hospital. The sunlight was blinding.
In the parking lot, paparazzi swarmed. Dominick was walking Chastity to the limo.
Chastity saw me. She smiled, linking her arm through Dominick's.
"Look, Dom," she said, pitching her voice for the cameras. "It's the ex. She looks terrible."
Dominick glanced at me. I was a ghost in sweatpants. Chastity was radiant, flushed with my blood.
He pulled out his phone. A second later, my phone pinged. A notification from the Pack's social media.
A photo of them. Caption: The Future is Secure. Alpha & Heir. NewLuna
Bile rose in my throat.
Five years ago, I lost my baby in a rogue attack. Dominick hadn't held my hand. He had stood over my hospital bed and asked, "Why were you so weak?"
Now, he paraded this.
"Annis!" Chastity called out. "Do you need a ride to the bus station? We have room."
She opened the back door. The scent hit me-artificial roses and vanilla, masking the rot underneath.
"Get in," Dominick said, checking his watch. "I don't want you loitering on my territory."
"I'd rather crawl."
"Get in the car."
The Command again.
My legs moved against my will. I climbed in, sitting opposite them.
"It must be hard," Chastity cooed, resting her head on Dominick's shoulder. "Knowing you were never really his mate. The Goddess makes mistakes."
"The Goddess makes no mistakes," I said quietly. "Only men do."
Dominick's jaw tightened. "One more word, Annis, and you walk."
I looked out the window. We were heading toward the Pack House. I needed my passport from the penthouse. Then, I would never see these monsters again.
