Page 10 of Ruthless Moon

Pain bursts from my side and spreads when I try to inhale. He fractured at least one rib. I recognize the type of pain. I wheeze and struggle to breathe.

My other hand is still outstretched, palm outward facing, reminding Aiden not to move. If he does, my father will hit me again. This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve been in this position before, where my father uses my pain to teach a man a lesson.

Aiden growls but doesn’t move. His hands are fisted at his side. But he’s heeding my request and more doubts about his character and true motives turn to smoke in my mind.

My father smiles while my brother stands. Finn won’t look at me. He’s never tried to stop our father from striking me. And I’ve never confronted him about it. He’s a coward. A yellow-bellied spineless worm. Both my brothers are.

My aunt and uncle sit quietly at the table. Aunt Kate can’t look at me; even Uncle Dave looks quite uncomfortable with my father’s demonstration of control. But he doesn’t say anything either.

“Compose yourself, daughter. We’re going outside to announce your engagement.”

My stomach churns. There’s no going back. There’s no getting out of this. There’s no escaping outside into Liam’s arms and disappearing off this mountain. That’s a fairy tale that only exists in the books I read.

I breathe through the pain and stand a little straighter. I lower my arms to my sides.

My father turns to Aiden with a cold expression. “I assume you have a ring to give her?” He waves at my bare hand.

My heart aches. My throat tightens. Appearances. My father’s not concerned that I’ll never be with a man that loves me. That I’ll never experience a happy marriage. He only cares about hisdealand how people see him.

Aiden mutters a curse under his breath, but he follows my father’s instructions. The ring on my finger is beautiful, but the golden bit of metal and diamonds is nothing more than a shackle—a cold reminder that my life doesn’t belong to me.

“Bit off a bit more than you bargained for, eh?” My uncle chuckles from across the table and stands. “It’s not too late. You could still change your mind and marry one of my girls. I’m much easier to deal with.”

“You lost this one, Dave. Just accept it and move on,” my father says, his words full of dark satisfaction.

Aiden tucks my arm around his and walks with me tight at his sides. Like that will help. Like his presence and closeness can keep my father from hurting me again.

I’m sad for him. For the lessons in hatred he’ll learn moving forward. My father and uncle’s feud will ruin a good man. And Aiden is a good man. I can tell because I’m surrounded by bad ones.

We step outside and, out of habit, I give an empty smile to the crowd until my gaze lands on Liam.

My facade cracks and an unbidden tear rolls down my cheek. All the might-have-beens fall with it. I wipe it away quickly, praying no one saw it.

The shock and pain on Liam’s face is a painful brand seared onto my soul.

But Fate means nothing to Oliver Gallagher unless he’s the one controlling it.

Chapter Four

That Witch Doesn’t Belong to You

LIAM O’CONNOR

Engaged.

“No fucking way.” The words erupt from me, raw and fierce. A hot surge tightens in my chest, and my fists clench. I fight back the swirling storm of emotions lurking beneath the surface. I can’t let anyone, not even my brother, see this breach in my armor.

Bast claps me on the shoulder. “This is what was supposed to happen. He did it. At least the daughter isn’t ugly. Although I’ve heard she’s a coldhearted bitch.”

A roar of rage boils up inside me, threatening to burst out. I shove my hands into my jean pockets and resist the urge to knock Bast down, sit on him, and punch his face until he stops talking shit about the woman who was stolen from me by our fucking alpha—my own cousin.

It’s useless. Reacting like an asshole won’t change anything. The engagement is done—I can’t undo it, no matter how much I want her for myself.

Need her.

Imogen Gallagher is supposed to bemine. My wolf howls on the inside—a brokenhearted, angry, vengeful howl.

Though it’s not like AidenknewImogen and I were a fated match. Hell, I didn’t even know until a little while ago. But that doesn’t make it hurt any less.

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