rned like a sledge

ice, the pressure rhythmic and agonizing. I groaned, shielding my eyes before I e

y, but I stumbled into the adjoining bathroom, collapsing before the porcelain throne. I retched, m

old tile floor, gasping

g freezing water onto my face. When I finally looked into the mirror, I expec

staring back at m

eep, flushed rose, and my eyes, those strange blue-green eyes seemed to burn with an inner fi

ay's clothes; the white t-shirt, the leggin

I sa

ay against my collarbone, pulsing with a faint, rhythmic

ht where the curve of my neck

e, mottled purple and angry red, fo

e b

force of a freight train. The forest.

e w

acked away from the mirror, my hands trembling violen

una

from the bedroom

ia

oor, slamming it shut and twisting the lock just as the doorknob turned. I

open t

g. It was a command, vi

tifle a scream, tears streaming down m

na," he said, his voice terrifyingl

y!" I ch

r, or I will o

No

RA

lock was ripped from the frame as the door flew o

sing myself harde

t, and dangerous. But when his eyes landed on me, huddled on the floor,

s raised in surrender. "Luna,

kicking out blindly. "Do

tightened, the muscles in his neck cording. For a second, I thou

ith an expression of profound hurt, then turned on his heel a

ing at the empty doorway, wait

s approached. Mum appeared, her

she whispered,

iar scent of her laundry detergent fi

rocking me back and forth. "I'm so sorry, Lun

tically. "You... you're human, righ

she promised, wiping my t

, who was so strong. Dad, who disappeared

ly. "Yes. Your fat

does he turn

Ye

ife was built on a foundation o

't ever call them that. Not Liam, and not your

t me!" I pointed to the

and her expression hardened, n

elping me up. "I need to ha

footsteps hea

ot. Downstairs, the sound of breaking glass shattered the silence,

stupidity drew me to

!" Liam's voice hiss

led, punctuating every word. "Sh

er, Sarah," Dad's voice wa

is terrified of him! You didn't even explain it properly. Yo

LA

the floor. Th

voice was barely a whisper, yet I heard

fro

ting, but projecting his voice s

t the broken door offered no safety. Taki

a disaster, dark circles bruised the skin under his eyes, and he hel

, keeping a respectful distance. "Can w

p. He followed, stepping over the debris

s hair. He looked exhausted, human, and devastatingly handsom

d, my voice small. "Do they only

. They love you more than anything. You are their daugh

g my arms around myself. "Because to me

truggling for words. "Every wolf has a soulmate. A missing half. It's decided by Fate,

p toward me, h

are mine,

itorous flip at the

red, desperate to hold onto the one

ntering my personal space, his heat radiating off him. "Why do you think I threatened every boy who looked at you?

n at me, his g

e I was waiting for you to turn eighteen. Because being near