e out of the tre

. The way you tell yourself a thing is smaller t

sn't

re. Standing at posts, moving in pairs, some still in animal form prowling the outer edges. All

without me deci

not

said. Not unkind

ves in your p

oug

h for

eways. "Enough for w

d that under things to worry

- no nod, no hand gesture. They just opened. Like the wolves

n't performed. It's built

felt every set of eyes in tha

into cold water. Th

these people. I would not make myself small. I'd learned that lesson the h

ybe nineteen, with a jaw too big

yes slid to me

l said. He did

leeding

iced,

onversation like a door shutting. C

felt sorr

mo

t had been around long enough to have opinions. A fireplace already burning - s

sat on the tabl

od in th

said. "There are clothes in the

rvive im

. Started

nditions," I sa

sto

eant

You knew my name before I gave it. You brought me into your compound past thirty wolves without explaining me to a single one of the

re cra

exactly three s

said. "Let me l

the qu

Down.

to sit down like

stopped me mid-sentence. "The cut on your side is deeper than you think. I can see it soaking

oked

de of my shirt was dark a

se he told me to. Bec

Pulled the first aid kit from beneath the basin t

r shirt,"

use

side. I need t

four inches along my lower ribs. Not deep enough to

w it. But his jaw did something - tight

eeds st

kno

going

said again.

heard about him. Kael Dravon who ended pack wars in days. Kael Dravon who'd exiled his own Beta for betrayal without flinching. Kael Dra

I said. Talking helped. K

the last sti

ed a

ut you for six

ved through my ch

hunting her." He stood. Moved to the window. Stood with his back to me, which I noticed beca

e lookin

es

hy

as q

my mouth. Too familiar for strang

rned

hoosing very carefully not to show me. His silver eyes moved across my face with an attention that fe

name," he said quietly, "someth

popped an

a full ans

agreed. "

he

door. "You've lost blood. You need

aving incomplet

e door. Didn't look back. "That

l

my side and his words sitting in my chest

d me I needed

ones who wanted the bounty. The ones who wanted the bloodline clai

n wasn't a

know wh

s you couldn't categorize were t

the bed with

nder th

n the

leep for a