pte

sha

bs overturned across the floorboards. Green leaves and dried petals were scattere

hands grabbed at her shoulders, trying to lift her, trying to wake her

er and winter preparations, laughing because I nearly tripped over the firewood outside. Now her eyes were half-open but empty, and my pulse pounded viol

?" My voice cr

wanted my mother. Out of nowhere, a heat hit me, and a massive fire exploded in the center of the clearing, sending me back aw

es, and there was nothing I could do about it. And then something snapped inside my knees, and I nearly gave out. "No." Ev

eamed, fighting wi

y done," som

What's

efully," another

ped struggling, not because I accepted it, but because something strange hit my nose; it was faint, almost hidden beneath the smoke. I took a d

the word echoed through my head, instantly, something was wrong, very wrong. My eyes lifted slowly toward the flames

my skin, alert and uneasy. I swal

proaching behind me. Alpha Darius Vale stepped beside

her sleep," h

lightly."She was f

didn't change."She ha

haled softly this time, trying to place it. Then it hit: herbs, burned flowers, and metal. That realization made my stomach turn even ha

roots at the kitchen table."Some poisons smell sweet before they kill." My pulse stu

Why not prepare her properly? Nothing about this felt right. My wolf paced violentl

mbling until Alpha Darius s

settled in my chest before I locked eyes with Alpha Darius. What I saw wasn't grief or sympathy, but relief. It was gone just as fast as it came,

r scent touched my nose one last time, and deep inside me, I