ra's

th day, I w

couldn't tell whether it

Fever burned beneath my skin, and every breath felt like a s

w

e back of my mind. She was fighting me, pushing ag

the bathroom and

tared back at m

remained, flickering beneath my lashe

ft in the bottle. My hands shook as I splashed cold wa

y mother's voice tremble

der than I'd ever heard it. "That you've

ened around the

protect

you intend to k

nd out what

lowed. I stood frozen, with

t a

to act normal despite the fever m

I had even opened it, appearing out

sual grin was absent, replaced by som

ar." I fumbled with my combination l

his hand cool against my burning skin. "Y

away. "I

utiful. My favori

cern, searching my face like he

ng and walked me to class, staying close eno

eir expressions a mix of jealousy and di

y hallway. "Have dinner with me tonight. N

u doing thi

s didn't answe

and the familiar amusement

y don't kn

w wh

ore they even speak to me. They either want my

do you thi

turned, although it wasn't quite as careles

's nothing t

let me pass. "Have dinner wit

g behind his usual confidence. Against my better judgment, agains

face. "Be ready by seven, sister. I have somethi

ad. Logan stood there watching us; he looked so fu

fusion. I found my mother in the kitchen and did not bother with

were protecting me? Pr

mbled. "Auro

My voice came out harsh, b

he gripped the edge of the

own!" I slammed my pal

e. Vincent said you poisoned me. He sa

her eyes and spilled over, but I refused to fee

lver Wolf," s

red a

wha

Your grandmoth

in, but she only looked a

g to have to do b

swal

extinct. Your bloodline carries extraordinary power, and the strength you cou

lua

d taste

're talking about me like I

"I watched what happened to my mother. I watched Alphas

s from her. "If I'm so powerful, then why have I alwa

you were two years old. Diluted, just enough to suppress your wolf, to hide your scent, to make

up my spine. "Y

ached across the table, b

was sixteen when three Alpha

ghtened around the

ing to do with their rivalry died in the fighti

stop

thought she wo

nherit her bloodline, and he didn't care what it cost her. By the tim

filled wi

teen when I

and it made my chest ache. But i

k away my wolf when I was two years old. You made me believe I was def

ice c

fe wondering what's wrong with you? To watch everyo

ad, strugglin

y identity, Mum. You ma

al life!" Her voic

ou turned eighteen. They would have fought over you, claimed you by force, used you for your bloodline and noth

looked. I got to thinking I was broken! Do you know what that does to a person, Mom? Do you know wha

know, and I'm sorry, but I would do it ag

le, to a pack full of unmated wolves, and you stopped giving me the wol

t you. Shadowpine is one of the strongest packs in the regio

the edge of the table. "Do

th me. He knew the risks, and he promised to keep you sa

wisted. "And

ing I needed to know. "Not yet. But Logan, he s

es me? Because he c

d again, and this time I let her take

love you. I watched my mother die because of what she was, and I swore I

ar that had been living in her chest for decades, the love that had twisted it

etly. "But I don't know if I c

s still falling.

ole body tremblin

he

just need to think. I need to figure out wh

lease be c

e being weak and small and hidden. You took my wolf from me for