l exhaustion set in and my muscles screamed. His methods were unforgiving, yet strangely patient. When

wild animal; it was me. And I was starting to perceive the world with a newfound understanding. The intricate stories carried on the wind, the vivid lands

s stated one evening, after I m

cus is

s on me. Not

ntion was perpetually drawn to him: the ripple of his muscles beneath his skin, the qu

ning things,"

ved close

ck

ke

ting second, I transformed my hands into claws and slashed at his

conceded. "No

eplaying Niklas's words: his deceased wife, his animosity towards half-

lf whispered

g that, I

rue simply because you r

unding. The window was small, far too narrow for a person

ice soothed.

as before, but his attire had changed-leather and fur, suggesting

get in here?"

sess... vulnerabilities." He offered a smi

he

real one. Not the

ng Niklas for our next session. Yet, Kianuk's calm demeanor and gentle eyes in

roots deeply embedded in the earth, stretched their branches towards the stars like grasping hands. The air w

e we?" I

. "A neutral territory. The packs utilize it for rit

are we d

nlight, his dark skin seemed to radiate a subtl

Niklas cannot," he stated.

y know ho

n between two worlds. Too human for the wolves. Too wolf for t

tened. "How do

"I lead because I am a half-blood, not in spite of it." He scooped up a handful of soil, letting it sift through hi

idg

wildness and civilization." He looked at me intently. "Your father understood this

recalled, who had died with unspoken s

ving a small leather pouch. "This is an Alaskan ritual. We call it the 'Breath of the Ancestors.'

into his palm. It shimmered in the moonlight, a cel

is t

ded his hand towards me. "Breathe it in. But be cautious. The vision it imp

leaned forwa

ved into a kalei

earth, and I felt every particle of soil, every blade of grass, the very heartbeat of eve

snow, with eyes like molten gold. She ran parall

you? I

d. I am you. The you that you

ot hi

ide from your power. You hide from t

t t

nd turned to face me. Her eyes-

she conveyed. It is a pers

side me, his hand cool on my forehea

you see?

white wolf. She sa

eady, but a flicker of somethin

leave," he u

at's hap

you are..." He pulled me to my feet. "They will not

f

rcepted us. He emerged from the trees like a phantom, h

voice low and menacing,

th his body. "She needed to learn. You

mean you were filling her head with your Alaskan superstitions

han you percei

side, o

N

st connected with Kianuk's jaw, sending the older shifter stumbling back. Before

iklas snarled. "S

trying to pull him away. "He wasn

wild. "Do you know what he is? He's a half-blood sympathiz

teacher!

Niklas released Kianuk and turned to face me

e training you. I've been the one keeping yo

went to someone who actually un

I d

dirty blood the f

e I was

and unguarded for the first time. "I was scared," he repeated, his voice softer. "Because I felt somethin

ded to hate

to protec

urtin

t it didn't work. Nothing works. You're in my head, El

the stronghold, never looking back.

p trying,

s if approaching a wounded animal. His fingers

o stop," h

won

ll

N

. I felt the undeniable press of his body against mine, the heat emanating

mistake," h

oba

hould

kno

n attack and a salvation. His teeth grazed my lower lip, his tongue claimed mine, and his hands slid beneath my shirt, gripping

ang. Mate.

iklas's forehead rested against mi

"I can't want you like

anything about

en, breathless la

, the absence a palpable wound. "We shoul

and bega

kla

sto

aid. "For being

I'm still figuring out if I'm you

o the darknes

stronghold when Ni

he com

t is

the dim torchlight, his e

," he said.

ggle, or perhaps the kiss, the fabric had ripp

aid, pulling the to

Let m

shed the torn fabric aside, reveal

? What'

e my heart. At something I had never noticed befo

get this?"

e had it as long a

led. His face

oice barely audible. "

t is

emotion I couldn't decipher. "This..." He touched t

ha

n years ago. In a forest. There was a girl. A half-blood girl. I bit her to sa

od ran

I asked, though I al

nd in his eyes, the wo

lif. And I think... I think I've been in lo

owled. And the world as I knew it