"If I were you, I’d send her away," Eric’s voice sliced through the heavy silence of the room. His gaze held no warmth as he thought back to Ainsley "She had a lot to do with Aura’s death, you know. And you, Alpha Ainsley... You’re just shocked by how much Eloise has changed. After all, the two grew up together. You’re just shocked by what she’s become. That’s all." The words struck Ainsley like a punch in the gut, yet he said nothing for a moment. His chest tightened, but he couldn’t bring himself to argue. He simply murmured, “Let me think about it.” His voice sounded hollow to his own ears. As the Alpha of the Litha Night Walker Pack, Ainsley had been conditioned from childhood to believe that mates were unnecessary distractions, that emotions were weaknesses. He’d grown up to be a le

