Chapter 158 AURORA You cant trust me , Aurora , Dane whispered .


    Dont ever trust me .


    Then I watched the soul of the man I loved disappear out of his own eyes .


    It was so strange .


    One moment he was fully present , the next moment he was the new version of himself .


    The strange version .


    The dangerous version .


    Goddess help me if I didnt want this version of him , too .


    Dane ? I whispered .


    He blinked and shook his head .


    When his eyes fell on me , his brow furrowed .


    Then he turned on his heel and walked away .


    I stared for a moment , shocked .


    By the time I strode after him , he had already disappeared into the press of people in the ballroom .


    Dane , wait ! I tried to keep my voice contained .


    I wasnt trying to start a scene .


    There are negotiations to be made .


    That was Chapter 158 the whole point of the g ! 2/6 He stopped and turned just as I ran up to him .


    His eyes zed gold , and he said , There will be no negotiations .


    There will only be surrender or death .


    Your choice , Luna .


    Then he was gone again , leaving me feeling like my heart had been ripped out of my chest .


    I stood there , in the middle of the press of people .


    At first , I dont think most of them realized what had happened or who we were .


    Then , as they did , they started to pull away from me with murmurs of , Luna ! and Pardon me , Luna .


    Whispers began .


    shbacks to thest g hit me , and my stomach twisted .


    I straightened my spine and looked around with a cool expression on my face .


    That was all it look .


    The wolves around me part of my pack or not fell silent .


    Dane and his shadow wolves walked out the door .


    My fists clenched .


    I knew the other Alphas would be seeking me out soon , looking for an exnation as to why the man who was the whole point of the g had just left .


    Aurora ? I turned to see Dancs sister , Piper , approaching me .


    Piper was here with her fiancé , the Alpha of the Cave Springs Chapter 158 3/6 Pack , Warrick Princeton .


    He was slightly older than me well into his 30s and handsome in a gruff , military way , with buzzed short brown hair and a square jaw .


    Except at the moment , I didnt see him .


    I just saw the woman I now considered my younger sister and a red mark that was quickly darkening to a bruise on her face .


    Piper ! I went to her and took her hands .


    Some of the heaviness of Danes presence lifted as my concern shifted to her .


    What happened to you ? Piper lifted a hand to her cheek .


    Her eyes shone as if with unshed tears .


    Was that Dane ? I please dont tell me I missed him ! The heaviness returned .


    Yes .


    Im sorry .


    He … I didnt think he would leave so easily .


    The Nameless must want something from us .


    That must be why he agreed to send Dane here .


    But Dane didnt even have time to say what that is .


    Instead , he hade back to me just long enough to kiss me and beg me not to trust him .


    Goddess , I didnt know if I would ever recover from that moment .


    Oh .


    Piper looked so downcast ; I thought her unshed tears must be for missing Dane .


    I squeezed her fingers , then pulled her into a hug .


    Well get him back , I whispered .


    I promise .


    She shivered and held onto me for a second before letting go .


    I Chapter 158 touched her cheek gently , and she winced .


    What is this ? I asked .


    Pipers cheeks turned a shade of rose red that matched her dress .


    It looked so much nicer on her than Lillianas bloody scarlet dress had looked on her though I might have been biased .


    4/6 Piper lifted her fingers to her cheek and said , Champagne cork .


    A stupid mistake .


    I heard Dane was here and … There was something off about her words .


    I thought about reaching out to her through the pack bond , but Piper was so private .


    You should go after him , Piper said .


    He cant just leave ! I looked after Dane , then nodded .


    At the very least , I could make sure none of his shadow wolves lingered once he left .


    I gave Pipers hand a final squeeze , then walked away .


    **** PIPER I watched Aurora go and lifted my hand to my cheek again .


    The skin was tender , and I pulled it away .


    I shivered and looked around the crowd , but I think Warrick had been angry enough that hed left , especially once he saw me Chapter 158 5/6 running for Aurora .


    I tilted my head down and quietly scooted through the crowd .


    I needed to find a powder room and fix my makeup so the bruise wouldnt show .


    It was so stupid that the marriage I had arranged for myself was already going this badly , when Warrick and I werent even married yet , just engaged .


    He was a brute , and I knew it .


    I thought a few months ago I could tame him .


    Now I wasnt so sure … and it might be toote .


    I had only approached him about an alliance in the first ce because I knew Aurora needed the Cave Springs Pack on her side .


    Their territory bordered ours , and Warrick was militant enough that he could be a huge asset … or a huge threat if he allied with the Nameless .


    I thought I was doing something smart .


    I didnt know Warrick was a monster .


    I closed my eyes and thought briefly of lc eyes , dark hair , and an easy smile flitting over scarred lips .


    Evander … But he wasnt interested in me .


    He never even stayed around , anymore , always gone on some mission or another .


    Near the doors of the ballroom , whispering started .


    Chapter 158 Look at him .


    a o dues 6/6 What happened ? Ive never seen a wolf with so many scars .


    My stomach did a flip .


    As if my thoughts had conjured him , Evander stood there .


    He moved right for me though all the whispers , took my face gently in his hands and said in a low , gruff voice , Piper .


    Who did this to you ?