ed away the rogue's body. Her hands still trembled. Her clothes were torn, he

the heat of Kael's

om his rejection echoing lik

.. Mi

a wounded creature. It didn't und

d understoo

as no

every

ow the wor

approached, a

m-heavy, dark, impossible to ignore. Whoever

entle voice

tu

s wide with worry. Her braid was messy, her apron stained fro

felt the ground shake, and then-everyone started tal

her voice cracked. Sha

dirt from Nara's cheek the same way she had do

re sh

ne," Nara

as a

far fr

el was here. I smelled him. Did h

d. A strange ache

wallowed. "He

a f

est wen

h

racked like a twig. "R

her dirt-stained han

enough to scatter a f

ected you as his mate? Y

ud," Nara whispered,

d... If the pa

the mate of the most pow

apart before Kael

is huge. The Goddess doesn't make mistakes. Kael must

er knees. "Be

argue, but a sudden chi

stiff

nostril

had entered

light-massive, broad-shouldered, and radiating raw power. His pre

feet and instinctively

glowed fai

ising them both. "If you want something

idn't

dn't

raised o

stepped aside quickly, mumbli

to the trees, Kael's ga

pinned to

out low. Contro

ed to

rced herself upright. She didn't want him seeing

ra whispered before he could sp

d slightly, but

he steppe

cl

aid. It wasn't a suggestion. It was an order.

you don't want people to know the

inched-but onl

day," he said coldly.

ed. "There

tracks. Only one attacked. That

ood ra

hing.

darkened.

t in her throat. "B

what I'm tryin

omething about his movements felt... restles

ed and stared

s hunting

ing tilte

ing

hat r

ul. She wasn't even a proper wolf. She

she whispered. "Nobody wa

hed. "The rogue

dropped viol

it attacked you, it said yo

tumble

don't-don't talk like that. They do

finished. "Savage

eane

one wasn

hudded agai

around her, making her head spin. She hated th

erstand," sh

his jaw. "Ne

en Kael dragged a hand through his hair, clearl

," he said. "Either I watch

a babysitter,"

what you thi

cracked li

flin

l f

first time, almost gu

This is not about the mate b

n't even want me as a mate. Why

o hers. A muscle t

he said quietly. "If you die... t

breath

at wa

sn't pr

elf-pres

tung sharp

" she w

n't de

htly away, putting distance b

e to escort you bac

walk on

ar

," she repeated, s

all

f a fire she did

ifted-curiosity, irritation, so

. "Fine. But keep

, already w

cted him

did

said quietly

t... it's

toppe

ha

your scent changed. Just for a m

wept through

Nara whispered, ba

didn'

agic," he said. "Something

re body

ent

e

oss

is voice dropped to a dangero

at slammed

rned a

ppeared into the shadows as if

r, a twig

fr

slowly... she t

yes stared at her f

Ka

hu

fami

w, rumbli

behi

the creat