ter

CH P

ra'

felt sore and heavy, but the mate bond hummed stronger inside me

whispered to myself. "B

ent reminded me of what had happened between us - how overwhelming the bond had

ounded at the

called quietly. "I bro

n slipped inside and handed me simple blac

" she whispered. "Blackthorn wolves are getting

before I could prove my father was innocent. Before I

you,"

locked the do

g me toward Kael. He was out there somewhere, fighting because of me. I paced the

, then faded, then rose again. They wer

n stormed in, covered in dirt and blood.

s voice low and dangerous. "Ryker is le

. "Then let me h

"You are still weak.

ow, his touch sent an unwanted warmth through me. The

is body leaned closer anyway. His scent wrap

bond would not let me, and if I was honest with myself, neither wo

this," Kael growl

ass shattered somewhere in the packh

m. "Stay here," he order

into the hallway. I

window. Its eyes glowed with a sickly yellow - the same unsettling color

wolf slamming into the intruder. They crashed thr

oved closer. A second wolf emerged fro

e. It howled in pain an

o the throat, then spun to help me. But more howls

still in the shadows at the end of the corridor. Silver hair. Pie

ha S

shed in his eyes. He looked at me like he had been waiting for this chance. But he di

rm, breathing hard, blood on

o the safe room.

poured in through the broken windows. T

something massive slammed into Kael from

wolf stood ove

ut from the darkness. He wore Blackthor

rait

raight at me

out. "Your father's secre