ISOBEL
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think past the rushing in my ears.
"The only reason we're lucky to survive this," Joseph said, "is because they don't want the shame of Hazel killing their Alpha to come out. They're protecting their own reputation. We should be grateful for that."
Grateful.
The word echoed in my head, bouncing around until it lost all meaning.
"We can have another child if that's what you want."
My hand moved before I thought about it. The slap cracked across his face, loud enough to make him stumble back a step.
"Goddess," I breathed. "My mother was right about you after all."
He touched his cheek. But he didn't say anything.
"You're weak!" The words tore out of me. "Spineless! You'd let them butcher our daughter and thank them for the discretion!"
I hit him again. He didn't block it. I hit him a third time, and my knuckles connected with his jaw hard enough to hurt. He still didn't fight back.
"Isobel—"
