Chapter 153 Mated By The Alpha Ch4

• The packhouse garden was supposed to be empty this late — just the wind rustling the tall pines, moonlight catching frost on dark soil. Lyara liked it here, away from the pack’s too-watchful eyes and the suffocating hum of mate snarling in her head whenever Therone’s scent drifted too close.
• She sat on the low stone wall, bare feet in the cold grass, white hair like spilled silk over her thin shawl. The bond thrummed under her skin — raw, hot, hungry — but for once she was calm enough to pretend she could ignore it.
• Until a voice like honey dipped in poison broke the quiet.