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I whimpered, and he cut off, frowning at my reaction. His eyes flared wide, and he shook his head.

“I don’t need you to succeed. I need you for my heart. This pack would do anything for you, Tully.”

Chase clapped his hands together in slow, mocking applause. “Wow, stirring words from Walden Baylark. But I don’t buy it.”

Walden grabbed him by the collar and jerked him with a vicious snarl.

“What is it to you? Were you born to be a perpetual thorn in my side?”

I thought I would cry. That was my preferred method of coping mechanism. But betrayal hollowed me out. The pain seeped into every space in my body until I was overcome.

A knock interrupted, and a man poked his head in, tapping his ear-piece.

“It’s time for us to go, Mr. Baylark.”

Walden shoved Chase away and waved a finger in his face.

“Get out of this gala and don’t even think about asking for my help in the future.”

Chase stomped past me, whispering in my ear as he went.

“This isn’t over, pretty.”

“Five minutes…” the man added when nobody else moved.

Pan let out a shuddering breath as he stood up. “I’m sorry, angel. It’s been a rough night. Let’s get through this and we can explain everything.”

More words. Dipped in sugar, like a hook to my desperate heart.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I folded my arms over my chest.

Walden clenched his jaw. “Why are you taking the word of someone like CJ over the pack that would do anything for you?”

I scoffed, and my secret poured out. A poisonous goodbye.

“Remember the alpha I told you about, the one who used me until he found out I had no Hartlock fortune?” I waved a hand where Chase stood moments before.

Baylark Pack weren’t fools and the domino effect of their understanding would have made me laugh if I wasn’t breaking apart inside.

“No,” Pan whispered.

“Yes.”

“I’ll destroy him.” Walden cracked his neck, but I held up my hand.

“You said you’d do anything for me, right?”

They clamored over each other with effusive agreements. Lloyd reached for me, but I shied away. Maybe there were no tears, but their easy manipulation crushed my heart. I’d fallen for a pack who lied to me.

“Whatever you need,” Ajax gasped.

“You can let me go,” I said and slipped past the man in the doorway.

Determined to find some place where they could never touch me again.

29

Walden