ra'

gray and

until they cut it at the line, shoved me forward, and turned away without a word.

ssed

wretched

No more distant hum of pack minds. Just

em of my dress. Every step hurt, calf muscles cramping, chest still bruised from the reje

sper looped

aid. My friends

of the knife. I tried to think of something els

growls

tiple. E

athing. Fear

en. Rogues. Filthy fur, scarred muzzles, ribs showing under

one torn ear stepped into the op

ulling back over yellowed fangs. "Said to

locked

laws. No fangs. No wolf. Just me-wolfless, wea

lun

elled suddenly f

rock and thr

d of their laughter ec

own I knew it wasn't possible. I had already crossed the border and the sound would not

el

el

voice. But this seemed t

ne will come to save you."

n. I knew it

f. Pain seared white-hot. I screamed, fell, tasted dirt and

r crouched over m

waiting for the

me

ame then, l

hattered

d. It was deeper, old

us exploded from

shifter I'd ever seen, broader, more monstrous. Dark chains coiled aroun

roze for hal

hey sc

the

un

n't le

-claws met air as massive jaws closed around his neck and ripped. A third tried to flee; the Beast caught

the ground in wet thuds. Limbs scatter

conds. There was

only by dripping blood

east

eyes loc

ldn't

d. Then another. Chains ratt

d me. Should have sent

ose deep red eyes, ancient, burn

rror... sl

rt still hammered, but not from panic. F

recede in slow waves, silver-streaked black hair falling for

. Full lips parted slightly. Eyes fading from crim

ow around wrists that were suddenl

oriously, com

men leading down to narrow hips and powerful thighs. Every in

ldn't get mysel

low, rough from dis

're

th. Nothing cam

whisper: "What.

ith those golden eyes. A faint, a

en," he murmured.

matted hair from my cheek with the back of o

ed. Everything

r to this strange, aching calm. The sight of him-f

blurred at

g, gentle, cradling me against a chest that

ss rus

heartbeat against my cheek-ste

not