The Weight

re her. It wasn't the jagged, painful pull of the fated mate bond she had shared with Kaelen-a bond that had felt like a

etched into her skin. He reached out, his calloused thumb brushing the edge of the mark. Elara shivered, but

is now your strength. My scent is your shield. From this moment on, no wolf i

e Silver Moon's floors, but they weren't trembling anymore. "They're burning the villages,

ard the weapon rack, pulling a cloak made of midnight-black fur around his shoulders. "But he made a mistake. He brought the f

you," Elara sai

aling feet. "You've had a sword in your hand for exactly three minutes, Elara. You haven't

in her eyes flickered, responding to her anger. "I am a Silver Lycan now. You said it yourself. If

rin spread across his face. He liked the fire in her. Most

he caught it by the hilt, the balance perfect in her hand. "But if you fall behind, I won't

emselves, the sound of whetstones on steel creating a rhythmic, lethal music. As they reached the s

sible for a man his size. He reached down, hoisting Elara up in front o

," he co

e frozen night. The wind whipped against Elara's face, but she didn't feel th

and red. The thatched roofs of the border village-her father's old people-were engulfed in flames.

"Look at what your 'fated mate' does when he doesn't get his w

issed, her knuckles turni

th a title. I'm the monster. And tonigh

akai steered the horse toward the tree line, circlin

ors. They were dragging an old woman out of a burning cottage, lau

m!" Elara

arm tightening around he

? I c

o your emotions. To your rage. Focus on the man with the spear.

ht about her own mother, who had died protecting her from a similar raid year

fingers trembling. Stop, she t

himmering thread that connected her to the warrior. The man froze. His spear stayed inches f

Elara whispered, her forehe

go, he will kill her. If you hesitate, you

He was terrified. For a second, she felt a pang of guilt. But then she saw

, imagining she was

he just slumped into the snow, his heart

their eyes searching the darkne

and bone-snapping muscle, a wolf the size of a carriage slammed into the two men. It w

ing with pride. He shifted back into his human form, his ski

r hand still outstretched. She was shaking now, th

Malakai said, stan

d to," she

red." He reached up, taking her hand in his. His touch was grounding. "This is the price of be

safety. She looked at the dead warrior in the snow-the man

s ice. "I don't regret it. I want to find

in. "Kaelen is already gone. He set the fire and fled like the rat he is.

do we

n. "We aren't going back to the Citadel yet. There is a temple in the Whispering Woods. It's where your mother

tling echoed through the trees. It wasn't a wolf howl. It was t

ttacking. They

Elara whispered, clut

e world changes. Because when we reach that temple, the girl t

nto a tree inches from Elara's head. Attached to the ar

kai hissed, pulli

asped, her breath hitching. "But s

alakai said, his jaw tightening. "Or someone