the steady rhythm of a h

ough gauzy curtains. She was back in the bedroom from before, wrappe

his chest rising and falling with deep, even breaths. Asleep. Actually asleep, with his fa

rmanent. She could feel him even in sleep. His exhaustion. His

nd every muscle in her

arm tightened around her waist. His eyes were still c

ng was

ly opened his eyes, and the gold was softer

d as she tried to sit up. Her body felt like she'd been hit by a truck,

is expected." Rowan sat up with her, his hand moving to the small of her

h enough food to feed a small army. Eggs. Bacon. Toast. F

ch growle

and she could hear t

e more than she needed dignity. The first sip was perfect. Rich and strong an

circles on her back, and she tried not to think about how good it felt. How right. "Thomas shifted this morning for the first time in

so intensely it was almost

ave too much. Pushed too far. If I hadn't cut the chan

idn't. I

t stopped twice while Vera was tryin

eet slipped, and she realized with a jolt that she was completely naked under t

ly moved back to her face. But she'd seen the heat

couldn't finis

n too much pain, and I wasn't going to take advantage while you were suffering." He paused. "Though I did have to get you out

t was on fire. "Great. Fa

thought that since the first time I saw you tell tha

came out shaky, but real. "Marcus tol

know the sound of your laugh. Know how you move when you think no one's paying attention. Know that you're strongest when

running wild through these forests. The weight of becoming Alpha at twenty-three when his father died. The loneliness of leadership. The mo

weird," sh

soft. "But it's ours. No o

needed space. Needed to think without his hands on

pulling back. "Get dressed. F

but he let her go. "Bathroom's through the

m, her legs shaky. Every step hurt. Every breath reminded her of what sh

hower big enough for four people. A tub that could double as a small pool. Rachel

amazing simultaneously. She stood under the spray, letting it w

d clothes laid out on the bed. Jeans again. A soft gray sweater. Underwear and a bra that fit perfe

htful in a stalker-ish way she d

way. He'd put on a shirt, thank God. The black henley clun

"To thank you properly. But if you'r

too. Want to make sure

How his hand hovered near the small of her back, not quite touching but ready to catch her i

loaded with food. Music played from somewhere, and people were everywhere. Talking.

hel appeared,

o touch her arm, her shoulder. Voices overlapping with thanks and blessi

he crowd immediately gave her s

ugh the adults and threw her arms around Rachel's

rouched down, ignoring her protes

zy!" Luna's gap-toothed smile was radiant.

glad, sw

s you're the Alpha's mate now. T

watching her with an unreadable exp

and dark-haired with Luna's same bright eyes. He had his arm around the woman f

one. Foster homes didn't count. Her shitty apartment was just a place to sleep. But these

ong

naged. "That means

Offered her drinks. Shared stories of how they'd felt the curse break, how they'd felt he

and terrifying

ficially pack famous. Erik's been telling everyone about how you t

ckname, that's a

to slinging drinks at The Crimson Moon now. You're

ght about that. About her job. About Suzy

suddenly. "I need to tell her I'

inks you had a medical emergency. That Rowan got you to a private

. She's my best friend.

ppearing at her elbow. "Humans who know about the

your decis

firm. "I'm sorry, Rachel. But this is bigger than yo

"So what, I just disappear? L

e friendship. You just can'

's ly

s surv

d what he was saying. Genuinely thought he was protecting everyone. But he was

ight about this,"

e was rueful. "But we'll

The air suddenly felt colder. Thicker. The laughter aro

pped out of

in that seemed to glow in the afternoon light. Dark hair swept back from a face that belonged in a museum. And

nstantly, his body tense. A l

d the name was half g

e. "Hello, Rowan. I heard there was a hybrid in your territory." Those sil

ng. Hungry. Not for blood, Rachel realized

." He inhaled deeply. "Even from here, I can smell it. Li

wled. "Touch her and I'

mile widened. "She belongs to herself. And I wonder, little hybrid, if you kno

prince from the outline. The second

ss takes us just as it takes the wolves. We're becoming monsters. Losing ourselves piece

Rowan snapped. "She nearly died la

me. Would you let my people die when you have the power to save them? When you cou

veryone was watching. Waiti

erate and dangerous. She could feel the truth in his words through some instinct she d

could

ic. "How long before your

be less. The curse accelerates. Soon

d my blood t

her step forward, and Rowan's growl deepened. "I need you,

their own problems. But Rachel thought about those kids playing in the clearing. About Luna

ple who loved them. People who wou

bout it," she

no," Rowa

et Alaric's ancient gaze. "Give me time. I need to recov

three days. That should give you time to heal." He straightened. "But I hope you'll choose to help us,

e shadows, moving faster th

ters. The pack closing ranks arou

curses. Two desperate species. A

e supposed

pened if she