loomed like

its stone walls like nature was slowly reclaiming it. The building was old, older than t

linger

k p

omach

ending you're invisible," De

lare. "I've never

almly. "You've survived by st

he wide courtyard. Some laughed. Some shoved. Some

lv

ir gazes slide towa

closed the

ct was i

Heads turned. Whisper

Derek

alpha

s the

lls... d

swall

, and without touching her, he positioned himself ju

nder his

kin c

ed. "You walk beside me.

n't n

, yo

d the build

ing, dominance pushing against submission in subtle, constant ways.

stum

t her elbow

fa

fami

aid, low. "Don'

boy blocked

d. "Didn't know yo

stiff

pression w

said evenly. "You will s

d. "She doesn't

into something dangerous. "And you

le

steppe

at Derek, he

't touc

raised h

e around them l

ly whispered, "You di

k said quie

d up at h

w tigh

're unprotected," he said,

unfolded like a slow

y went, she fe

eyes. Not fr

ating

ss of pack energy. Wolves didn't need to bare teeth or growl to assert dominance. It was in the way they s

locker near the cen

yours,"

ked. "How

this morning." He opened the locker

t agree

he replied calmly. "This

n. Or sur

ack into the locker

d, Lily caught sn

he hu

she smell

's t

tone guar

air slowed as she passed them. Her gaze

ere getting a pet, St

n look at her. "

h and calculation. "C

breath

d. His eyes went ha

a long second, then l

ands wer

that?"

aid. "Beta bloodline. Amb

ice," Lil

before she c

blurred

k was greeted like royalty. In Biology,

p you catch up

didn't

ked Lily's chair from behind. She st

eg

e

a

sence echoed in her mind like a soft whine. Lily pressed h

she was

at the center tables, lower ranks around the edges. Humans clustered n

traight to the

versation

ad idea," Li

he said

hesi

pull in her chest, firm and undeniabl

d before her

e

nce was

de her, casual, composed

ne s

face

unch and leaned

not h

gas who don't eat

him. "Stop say

one," he sho

more than s

across the table sneered. "Didn't kn

dn't know you were into talki

lushed an

bite of food sh

sn't pr

as own

ly ended, Lily w

erek

anywhere

ed at hi

enly, "this is where you

e spiked

es

ing behind them like a shadow. He led her down

his," Lily accused

bruptly and tur

I'm preventing s

miliat

he pack you'r

n't as

he interrupted. His vo

his hand, the one she'd never really looked at before. Could feel

ust me," she

. "But I don't tru

opened a door mark

ined the walls. The air sm

doing here?

d the door

aid, "is you

her arms. "I

e said. "An omega. Female. Age sixte

caught. "Dis

w tightened. "Transferre

wh

u're going to h

ed at him

as weak." His eyes locked

filled t

now how to do t

you're hiding, they react to pain. Fear. Traces of pack ma

unded. "And

dangerously so. "Then an

stomach

At the countless names. Liv

eached for th

the paper, a sharp puls

sion b

old. Sc

d and stum

ght her i

you see?"

shook. "Sh

eyes d

, Lily realized so

wasn't abo

a war alrea

nding right at