, the fragile control Amon

ned ragged, his chest heaving as he stared at her. He leaned into the touch of her hand on

ntly wrapped around her ankle, his thumb light

that sent a jolt straight to Catherine's core. "Wh

brain shor

a

water. Her face burned hot. Panic, sharp and sudden, spiked in her chest.

bed until her spine hit the cold stone wall of the cave. S

n f

er eyes. He saw her

ng darkness. He snatched his hand back as if he had been burned. He dr

ce was completely hollow. "I was

in Catherine's stomach. She quickly waved her hands. "No, it's not

r World, when a female chooses a male, they form the bond that night. But..." He s

erky. He needed to get out of the cave before h

ting her eyes. "I will go into the forest.

y fled the cave. A flash of silver light illuminated the entrance

a long, shaky brea

rumble. She looked around the cave. It was clean but incredibly bare.

ed the mechanical

cked. Newcomer gif

She focused her mind and th

lowing white void. Floating in the center of the void was

ploded into a

of bottled water. Boxes of protein bars. First aid kits. A pile of modern, d

ef. She mentally selected a bott

The items were sitt

she ripped open the chocolate wrapper and took a massive bite. The rich, sugary sweetness flooded her sen

d of crunching footsteps and hushed voi

er bottle under the thick furs on the bed. She crept quietly toward the

l clearing near Amon's cave. The red-haired female,

oke sneered, her voice dripping with malice. "Amon is such a f

r her, she's going to starve. Or worse, Amon's rut will hit and he'll t

o the venomous gossi

and her dirt-streaked hands. She wasn't goi

k cargo pants from the gift package. She quickly stripped off her ruined clothes, wiped the blood and mud from her face and arms, and

breath, squari

shadows of the cave and walke

dent spark in her eyes. She stood at the edge of the cliff, looking down

s cut off

orrified silence. Catherine didn't look like a broken, starving vic

ad animals they were carrying slipped from their hands, hitting the di