says, and I follow b

t to speak. Even when she handed me new clothes, I was silent. I didn't thank her for the clean c

of nothing but Nathan and the leaders of our city. By the time

tunnel is dark. I am constantly tripping and bumping into her back to catch

For some reason, she stopped without even warning me. She quickly steadi

ext. You will wait here until that decision is ma

I don't fall, luckily, but that doesn't make me feel any be

e," I complain as I turn in w

d us. We have no lights, and we rarely use the fire. Only when we are in human form do we light it. You do not need to fear the dark.

ad an awful day, and this...this is frighteni

of humans. That has been so since we were created," she s

officials have kept vital information from us...Please don't leave me in the dark on to

I plead hopelessly after

decided it was safer to keep it secret. The officials who were around when the cit

swirl. I didn't hear him approach us and that fact

feel safe, but at the same time, he might be keeping me for not-so-pleasant reasons. He might be ang

ing me here," I ask in such a quiet

has already been summoned, so it should not be more than a few days," he replies, and my eyes

nd...Not a real being...right,"

ANS AND THEIR SURVIVAL, EVEN THOUGH NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, IT'S NEVER ENOUGH. DO NOT CALL HER A BEAST AGAIN. WE ARE LYCANS! THE RACE OF PROTECTORS! THOUSANDS OF US HAVE D

g at me for upsetting him, and the other half is confused about why I care. A knot of yearning and shame is buildin

" he orders, and the knot in my chest t

ize to me for hurting my feelings. It's like my traumatic day has bonded me to him,

d I basically scream-sob bef

l like he is ripping my soul in half just by being upset with me. Maybe it's because he is

says gentler, but my sh

ittle, and I

dy. Maybe we should place her by the fire in the main room. I will guard her. She will not run off," Gi

u will be punished for failing to follow orders," he grumbles,

ys, and I hear the meta

n't have to. She picks me up gently, and this time, I curl into her

Alpha like that," Giulia whispers as

ore her curiosity and focus on the warmth radiating from her ski

she whispers, and I freeze

or a second, and she g

n't upset him. The Oracle will be here soon. She will know what to do," Giu