na's

ching across the edge of my bed like a warmth I didn't d

hing had

nd blank. It almost felt like the night befo

Alp

w

blo

ng. Just

opened my

blending together. Then my vision cleared. I saw the cu

eath

e barely audible. "Why did

hut, pressing my han

snappe

ceiling, my heart

volve th

Before my thoughts could spiral further

ht, carefre

ut of my thoug

d my feet into my slippers be

n space, their laughter filling the air as the

my eyes searched

asn't

frown

re. Always the lou

Maybe she just h

ger, watching, thinking. Th

per, caught at the

ws fur

and carefully

ched my hand some

e on my lips

lightly around it befo

ut they hit harder

ave t

war

As a cold wave rus

asn't

s a cou

mbled as I low

looked bac

ghing. Like nothing in the world was wr

new, this w

ly in my chest, s

h

this h

ause I walked with Alpha?

w tig

rushed out of the room, the n

to find

h the hallway, my heart pounding, my though

aught me befor

itched as I

a moment every

n racing all over again, but fo

ssion softening instantly. And

," he said gently, "

h to speak, but

air behind my ear, looking away

rcing a small sm

ze lin

," he said quietly.

oment I almost told him.

rning slammed in

volve th

allo

," I said instead

a moment longer, t

softly. "Everything w

though I didn

anym

There's a special ceremony

I replie

moved. Then he gave me one l

there,

ill hidden

d the moment

ar came ru

r than

group of children ran toward me,

d their arm

Care

a

s another story

d a sma

" I sai

ed and ran

hed th

inno

happ

tightened

oesn't un

g happen to them.nN

nation settled

in that forest," I whisper

t costs m