Chapter 33

• I tried to find solace in the garden, escaping the whirlwind of emotions that came with being Alaric's mate. I settled into a chair beneath the shade of an old oak tree, my book resting in my lap. The peace of the garden was a welcome distraction from the constant reminders of my new life. The soft rustle of leaves and the gentle hum of bees should have been calming, but the tension in the pack was a dark cloud hanging over me.
• I was absorbed in the story, my mind temporarily at ease, when a shadow fell across my page. I looked up, startled to find a woman standing there, her presence an unwelcome interruption.
• She was striking in a way that seemed almost exaggerated, her red curls were styled perfectly, her pale skin dotted with freckles. Her nose was upturned, an artificial, polished perfection that screamed of plastic surgery. I could tell instantly; having lived in California, I knew the signs of someone who had gone under the knife to achieve an idealized look. There was something in her gaze, a mix of challenge and hate.