me for a

d thing in a world that had suddenly turned to water. I could feel his heartbeat against my cheek,

clearer. More focused. The vulnerable man

inting to the northern border where someone had drawn rough markings. "This is where they h

se of the markings. "They were probin

n his eyes-surprise, maybe, or r

out the weather." I traced the lines on the map with my finger. "If they hit here and here ag

or a long moment. "I

t a pretty face they picked for the ceremony, Damon. I have skills.

I'm sorry. I've been so focused on protecting y

ftly. "But I also need purpose. I need to

ng along my cheekbone. "You matter. More than an

o show it. Because I can't keep living like this, Damon-waking

es. "I'll try. I promise. After

sharp knock

his expression shutter

ed between us-I couldn't name it, couldn't define it, but it was the

on. One of the patro

weapons belt from where it hung on the

voice was tight. "I've got a search p

s belt, then glanced at me. "Elara, stay he

am

almost desperate. "I can't fo

to be part of this pack instead of just a thing to be protected. But I saw t

e back, we're going to have a real conversatio

d me-hard, quick, fierce. Then he was gone,

dow, watching as the search party assembled-a dozen warriors, grim-faced and armed, with Caleb and Damon at t

mpossibly empt

ecked the windows, made sure every possible entrance wa

oken only by the occasional distant howl or the rustle o

me, I almost jump

a, high and frightened. "Are you in

ock, then hesitated. Damon's words echo

through the woo

dow, moving in the dark. I ran here, but I

open the door, wanted to help her, but the wa

rd post-it's safer there. I'll watch fro

completely different

s. It was deeper, roug

he handle rattled-once, twice, then a heavy thud as somet

The voice was mocking now, c

e curtains. A figure stood outside-tall, cloaked in shadow, his fac

e here, in the hea

By the time anyone reached me, they'd be through t

again, a crack ap

m outside, a

igure by my door. They crashed to the ground in a tangle of limbs, and suddenly the night exploded in

ements were fluid, deadly, nothing like the warm, smiling Beta I'd come to kn

blood streaking his face-not his own, I realized, someone else's. He l

d. Then he walked toward the door, an

you okay? Op

uld barely work it. When I finally got it open, Caleb s

ands running over my arms, my shoulders, checking for

as a whisper. "I didn't open t

ing his features. Then he pulled me into his a

rmured against my hair. "When I saw them at y

na, that there were lines we couldn't cross. But I didn't. I wrapped my arms around him a

ust enough to look at me. "Damon's still at the ridge-there were more

night air was cold against my skin, sharp with the scent of blood and battle

rm and clean inside. He guided me to a chair by the fire, th

de," he said. "You can

fingers brushing against a cut on his cheek. He f

noth

se. I need to do somet

ere he kept supplies-and gently cleaned the wound. It was shallow, alre

whispered. "F

s gaze made my heart stop. "I'd do it a

trust my voice. So I just nodded

close enough to feel each other's breath, something unspoken

e they're all gone." He wouldn't meet my eyes. "Stay

he was gone, the door cl

the ghost of his touch on my skin. My heart was still ra

ght. He ran through

nce myself that the warmth spreading

d. I hadn't slept-couldn't sleep, not after everything. When

b's voice, tire

ustion written in every line of his body. But he smiled when

Claw scouts are dead or gone. D

the night. My mate. My Alpha. The man who'd t

u-he's not happy that I brought you here instead of keeping you in your own hut. It

rrassment, maybe, or guilt. "Not

ne. "But the pack might not see it that way. And

past him, out into the morning light, and walked

eb stood in his doorway, watching me go, and in h

ng

I felt every time

Damon. But the image stayed with me-Caleb in the doorway, his blue

that terrified me, that nothi