Kael Anderson lost his future mate and luna, Stephanie, during a rogue attack. Stephanie's death left his entire pack in mourning; her death anniversary was even declared a pack holiday.

Five years later, Kael discovers that Stephanie's younger sister Astrid is his mate. But how can that be? Wasn't Stephanie supposed to be his mate? And would his pack even accept Astrid as his mate and Luna-many have always blamed Astrid for Stephanie's death, because Stephanie died trying to save Astrid.

For her part, Astrid has lived in the shadow of her beautiful older sister for years. She knows very well that pack members and her parents wish that it was Astrid that died that day instead of Stephanie. Astrid had looked forward to the day that she would meet her mate and finally feel important to someone.

Discovering that her mate is Kael is Astrid's worst nightmare, especially when Kael reacts poorly to the discovery. Astrid decides that she is unwilling to live in Stephanie's shadow any longer. She will not spend the rest of her life with a mate who wishes she was someone else. She rejects Kael, who all too quickly accepts the rejection.

Soon afterwards, horrifying truths come out and Kael immediately regrets letting Astrid go. He sets out to get Astrid back and right the wrongs that have been done. But is it too late? Will Astrid find love with Kael, or with someone else?

I listened as patiently as I could while Dr. Miller detailed some of the abuse that Astrid voluntarily went through at Stephanie's hands. It was not easy.


I cringed when he told me that he knew Astrid did not come to him every time something happened to her, so there was likely much more that had occurred. I also cringed when Dr. Miller explained that Astrid was abused so often that he and Astrid had an agreement: she could sneak out of the packhouse after hours and meet him at the hospital any time she needed treatment.


(That was why Astrid was at the hospital the night before her 14th birthday—Stephanie had abused her earlier in the day.)


And then I fought back absolute rage when Dr. Miller talked about the specifics, including:


Stephanie burning Astrid's skin with a curling iron, a branding iron, and a regular clothes iron


Astrid being beaten, and having her fingers and toes broken one by one


Chapter 96 - CHAPTER 96