Fane

to the size of Theron's shadow. I focused on the mundane details-the list of herbs for my grandmother, the time I was sup

uiet, watchful attentiveness. He walked beside me as we left the

ing toward the gravel lot where my ba

gently steered me in the opposite direction, toward t

tered. "Ther

devoid of markings, with windows so darkly tinted they looked like polished obsidian. It was an armored transport, the

ron, their expressions a mixture of confusion and a deference I had never seen them give him before. He wasn't their Beta.

is?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper

ing us in near-total silence. The roar of the engine was a distant, powerful rumble. H

shboard. Theron didn't have friends who owed

talked about the price of moon-petal herbs, about a pup in the nursery who was showing early si

alfway to town

mped along his cheek. I felt it before I saw it-a wave of cold, murderous fury radiating from him, so potent it made the air in the car feel

ed in a battle I couldn't see. After a long, suffocating minute, the feeling receded, leavin

ked, my heart hammer

. "Never better," he said, giving me a soft smile. "Just thinking about ho

, cheerful face. Theron walked me to the door, his hand once again proprietary on my ba

la

e. His presence was a heavy blanket, smothering the light conversation. I tried to talk to Rona about my grandmother's failing

e intense gaze never left my face. He wasn't listening to the c

the car had been a conversation. A mind-link. A voice,

nce. How long until your mate finds ou

s furious,

depends on me. She w

m?" Rona asked abruptly, her eyes pleadi

m the table. The moment we were around the corner, hidden from his

ely. "He looks at you like you're a pie

ed, the words tasting like

curls flying. "This is more than that. I'm

t th

Do you remember that boy from the Silver Creek pack, Leo? The one who had a cr

e. Leo had just... stopped. I'd assum

saw a fire. It was Theron. He was sitting there, calm as anything, feeding Leo's letters into the flames, one by one.

ath hi

He didn't look angry. He just smiled. He put a finger to his lips and said, *'Don't

l dissolved into a dull roar. Rona's story wasn't a rumor. It was a memory. A concrete, chilling piece

p between the door and the frame, I could see our table. I could see Theron. He had picked up my water glass and was me