was a brightly lit white stone ceiling, washed in the multiple sunbeams that flooded the room and caused her to squint her eyes. For a bri

shot through her lungs like fire. She could

ome b

to the shadowy co

cond slowly she turned her head, but

His eyes still glowed, sharper and colder than the river water in which she almost drowned, but there was also

ll and stepped toward her.

ng to keep her voice even, mas

ered, stopping at

stead of failure. Admirable- or

ght to offer a sideways smile.

looking at her as one looks at a catalog. She fought t

said, "that sort of recklessn

es I sit beside," she said, trying to add a layer o

hed. Not a smile, but close. "Take care, bug slay

strength to scoff. "I will take m

, checking Serena's ribs while clucking her tongue. "

tri

barely succeeded in the first. Wha

y and cast the walls with golden light. Damien sat at the desk, methodically buffin

the door opened, "You wi

constricted

cil and all of the elder Alpha's. It's to test dominance." He turned his g

ll be

drowned in

ne because she had been through worse than drowning in water, worse than people laugh

le during her moon cycle. Her scent, her shape, her

she had fel

d, tighter than armor, but she felt the spell tug on her body, the seams creeping into her

urn his gaze, firm. "I wil

s inscrutable. Then he turned back to the knife

lls, smoke curling into the rafters. The smell of sweat, blood, and anticipation hun

the arena. "Today you will find out if you are wolves or pups. If you win, you will sur

me, and pairs wrestled each other-- claws raked, teet

d to ring in her bones. She stepped forward, though it fe

his muscles were bulging from underneath his uniform. He grinned and looked a

remaine

histl

ss by her ear. Instinct took over, allowing her father's training and all her nights spent practicing

rike to the throat, and a quick knee to the leg. The boy grunted

e spat before c

was tugging against her body and her chest was awash with heat, her scent spilling from her as she l

ong foot. She sprung backward, turned into him, loaded her elbow, and slammed

owd er

" the headm

ly, with sweat running down her temple. For a m

he fel

hole through her fr

locked on her, narrowed, his nostrils flaring as if h

ach sank

ging and unfolded every last inch of fabric too methodically. She could

like no wolf I've witnessed.

d kept her voice low. "Sorry

le

ur scent cha

od turn

mask barely holding. "Wh

natural brilliance and danger. "You are various today. Not weaker. Not str

hest. She forced a blankness to her face, and tried to make her

e forever, until finally that damn

ay

e thought her proclivity to blush at any slig

amien wasn't go

uncover her secret, but he is moving in for the kill, and in the meantime,