ars old and bleeding from the eyes while my body tried to

. Dark hair fell across his forehead, longer than he'd worn it before, and his face had lost whatever softness youth had given him. He looke

e he hadn't slept

all pretense of civility vanishing. "This is

of damage and longing and rage. His warriors had formed a wall between Crimson's hunters and my pack, effectively cutting off any chance of violence. F

still in my hands, cold and wrong, and I dropped it like it had burned me. "You rejected

it stole my breath. But it was gone in an instant, replaced

errified. Crimson's hunters looked ready to attack at the first opportunity. Raven's warriors looked like they were waiting for an order to c

re about to collar yourself and walk into captivity with a male who'

saving

rs moved with him, a synchronized show of force that made Crimson's hunters tense.

ger. And I still don't trust you as far as I can throw you." The mate bond flared again, protesting my words, trying to pull me towar

ack, refusing to be the first one to look away. The air between us crackled with everything we weren't sayi

your pack come to Shadowfang territory. Under

ory will stop me? I have allies, Blackwood. Three other

through me first. And I promise you, Crimson, I'm not the same Alpha I was five years ago." He shifted h

one, never heard him ask instead of command. It felt wrong and intimate and far

I could hear how weak it sounded. "I've survive

ou're getting weaker. Every day the curse digs deeper. You have what, three months? Less?" His hand

"You rejected me. You called me weak and unworthy in front of

I know what I did. I know what it cost you. But I also know that if you die because you're

, then at the two groups of hostile wolves surrounding us. "Lyx, we need to make a

coiled tight, waiting for his signal. And Raven's warriors looked equally prepared to turn

atever nightmare he had planned. Thought about the curse eating me alive, the silver veins

go when he'd destroyed our bond, and th

full protection, full rights, no questions asked. And I don't stay in your house

esitate. "Whatever you need

You don't get to act like we're mates. You don't get to touch me or claim me or pretend that bond m

ehind his eyes, but h

u think running to Blackwood will save you? I'll ha

nded, eyes fully gold. "If you come near her again," he said, voice dropping to something inhuman, "I will make your death last f

dpipe, but he managed a jerky nod. Raven released him wi

eir eyes in submission. Every wolf except me. I'd stopped being able to submit to him the day he rejected me.

into the forest, but not before shooting me

e same time. Raven turned to me, expression careful. "Pack your cam

stion carrying more weight

e underneath the Alpha. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I