A Fleeting Moment of Freedom

"Julian sends his love," I said to Camille, the lie bitter on my tongue as we finished our desserts.

After his unexpected appearance at the restaurant, Julian had smoothly covered his tracks, claiming his business meeting was a last-minute arrangement. He'd kissed Camille's cheek, nodded curtly at me, and moved to a private dining room before she could ask too many questions. Now we were alone again, but the tension lingered in the air between us.

"He seemed distracted," Camille remarked, setting down her spoon with a sigh. "He's always working lately."

Guilt gnawed at me. If only she knew the real reason for his distraction—his obsession with making me his mistress while parading her around as his fiancée. I should tell her the truth. She deserved that much.

"I'm sure he's just busy with pack business," I said instead, hating myself for the cowardice. "The merger between Redmoon and Silver Crescent is a big deal."