y

ons I couldn't bring myself to care about. Shock first, t

ignore

I tried again, drawing strength from inside. I hooked one arm beneath Skylar's shoulders,

lar gasped, "W

th," I said throu

mon call out to me in

rab his arm with surprising force. "Kael, d

her with a torn exp

r me, or he could stay and soothe her hysterics.

n the corridor. My feet stumbled over the

pleaded, her voice weak.

d from clenching it. "

wood estate and suddenly my knees gave out. I tried to catch myself, but I fell hard with Skylar tumbling beside me. The impa

began

ments I had been dismissed and overlooked and betrayed, it all came flooding out. I

d out. "I'm so sorry

cut in. "Just

as I sobbed, her hand stroking my hair with a

. I know it. This wasn't your happily ever after, but that's okay. There'

that I believe her bu

form a response, I fel

he tumbled backward against a tree trunk. Her eyes widened with shock,

I shouted.

recognized the emblem on their clothing there were from th

front of Skylar.

blow barely staggered him. His companion came at me from the side, and I felt cl

ard into Skylar. She caught m

cried. "You

but she refused to budge.

ld hear the distant sounds from the chapel. They were

y, to try one last desperate plea

chapel. I could see Damon carrying Celestine in his arms. My mother was beside

irection in the bushes. Why was she doing that? Did sh

of the attackers hissed in my ear. "Your

the edges and then I saw on

arms around me held fast. "Don't touch

cker laughed. "She seem

en I let out a low guttural growl. I felt a warm heat sp

se pain deep in my bones

porating in an instant. The man who grabbed Skylar screamed

at. The rest of them fled into the forest and I trie

d. The scent wrapped around me and soothed my body which was pumpe

rself," a

e to chase after the fleeing attackers. I caught only a glimpse of bro

efore I could

hanging in ribbons from my shoulders. One of my sleeves had been completel

dress. It was far too large, the sleeve

wa

nscious. "Are you okay? What the fuck j

back to stare into the darkness where he had disappeared. "I don't know

ggled to sit up. "On

us. "I don't know who he is or what he wants. You go g

asked, looking at me lik

he is one

ed to find out."

d. You've got injuries on y

back to the pack and go ge

even listening to me. If you're not bac

Try not to get

the one chasing a mysterious stranger into the woods while

ard the direction the ma