, the world

caught in her throat, watching the im

logical, controlled was standing

is ey

eyes didn't b

onged to

that shouldn'

he had been w

ted, snarling low

t expecting

from someone wh

cing as pain shot through he

dn't

dn't

coiled, chest rising and fa

ed inside her, tremb

awake

s knuckles turned white. A faint crack echoe

e trembling. "You need to bre

dn't

e took in the scent of the rogues. His brea

s sli

only one who cou

ly, fighting through the pa

rogues lung

ven get the ch

moved

dn't

n't he

act like

snout with such force the rogue skidded across the pavement,

a ga

sn't st

supernatu

wolf

stop!"

asn't li

ing, trying to figure out why a "hu

't ready for this. Partial awakening was dangerous,

e out low, al

gain... and I'll

heart

't Adrian

as his

rian's arm. "Adrian. Please hear me. You

ike it burned him, staggering b

strug

instincts he ne

d as if something inside him was trying to break free. The sound

, pushing through her fear. "L

ilver gaze sn

nd, she sa

a s

his expression. Confus

king. "I don't... I don't under

eart

and on his cheek. His skin was burni

" she whispered. "You

ath stu

olf?" he

"And if you don't control

d hard, but he

lves snarled

wl leaving his throat. Layla grabbed both side

," she cried. "Fo

and fell in fas

thing. Every sound. Every breath. Every " He

heart

mate

ting him f

but firm. "I'm right here. I'm not

her palm ov

ath shu

ment, it

s loosened

om bright silver t

grounding himself

d to shatter when one of

d, instinct

me, Layla m

sing her arm, letting her wo

" she

ce wasn

ogue

llow for a second as h

into the shadows, snarling before dis

t they were gone, her str

her before she

ay

ribs hurt. Her legs trembled. But the moment she f

red at her

id you just do?

ed up at h

s soft, tire

aved

You... you faced those things a

spered. "They were

ned for the first t

uietly. "Why risk

throat t

't want

asn't

tely wasn

ipped out anyway

e you'r

an f

mediately. "I I didn't

t let go

dn't

dn't

e she was the only thing

voice rough, raw, alm

way, tears bur

supposed to touch," she whis

tightened sligh

" he aske

are

him, the city lights

ate chose to r

eath c

on both their skins pulsed viole

inhaled

early c

bond was

ow

hem to ea

her shoulders

s happening?

d at him,

she whispered. "The