Thor

e, was a monument to a love that was now dead and buried. The scent of him lingered on

h. "Don't be afraid, little one," I whispered to the silent

age and revulsion. She clawed at the mental walls of our connection to Ryk

, no matter how far I ran, he could track me, pull me back with the invisible leash that tied our souls together. But an Alpha's po

that night. Ryker walked in, and the scent that clung to him was not his

through me. I forced my expression to remain blan

the rustle of his shirt-grating on my raw nerves. I felt the bed dip as he lay down behind me.

een my greatest comfort, now felt like a violation. It

ck. "Elara," he murmured, his voice a l

n, his intentions clear. He wanted to fulfill his

in my mind. *Don't you dare touch u

eam at him, when the shrill ring of h

expression shifted instantly. He untangled himself from me withou

out the words, dripping with concern. "Serena? Wh

rt turned to solid ice. I k

. He didn't even look at me as he grabbed his jacket. "There's an urgent ma

throat, laced with a bitterness that

s eyes were chips of grey ice. "Don't start, Elara.

shot in the night. I sat up in bed, listening to the sound of hi

"urgent pack matter" wa

. I cried not for him, but for my own foolishness, and for the innoce

my reflection in the dark window, were no longer filled with sorrow. The

go on. I wou

g desk in the corner. I opened the bottom drawer and

gh the brittle pages until I found the chapter

stark against the wall. It was the shadow of a woman no longer willi