ra'

the essence had penetrated my skin, remained, as well as the feel

ng explode

man from the front row, pointing a

"Just look at her face. Just look at her. Th

myself, hands grabbed my arms on either side. Turning to see the gu

I manage

guard said, tightening his hol

o spot either Kaizen, Elder Theron, or anyone else who could tell me why I was being taken away. Kaiz

he guards. Nobod

entrance whenever I had delivered herbs to the elders. I was shoved into the middle of t

led one of them before I

"I don't-I don't have a c

l member, reaching forward from his chair. "The chose

teady. "I hardly know the Alpha. I've never had a private conversation with him.

unds bel

how I am treated in this pack. Would I want this? Do you really think I'

g eyes, tilted her head as she scrutinized my face. "That sc

me as a kid. You

d. "Or is it someth

you mean

rk," she said. "It's possible that your s

ing as a healer here since I was twelve years old. You've all seen my healing power

ssence choose to her," another council member interrupted m

ceremony tonight. Ask Mira. Ask any of the healers. I was going to st

ould say anything, and Elder Theron

investigation should be conducted. We will not trap a scared girl and

, sitting up. "Do you not realize why we are c

person has in the pack. Wolf essence picks based on compatibility that goes far beyond what we can ever see with our eyes. I have

do you e

s for itself. Whatever any of your feelings on it may be doe

except for the door opening

s were

at softer. "I take it that you

ject it," Kaizen

t sure why I expected otherwise. Of course he would reject it.

stated softly,

won't choose somebody that I have never even met in my life. There is a mistake with the readi

" Theron said, his tone decisive.

ception," Kaizen repli

ything. But there were no words to say in that moment; there wasn't a thing to say. I had been

saying nothing the whole time. I collapsed onto the floor the moment I stepped inside

y m

. I had avoided Kaizen for years. I'd done everything in my power to

wolf selected

uggling to catch my breath. Maybe ther

much time to c

ing for me to respond, they barged inside. These guards

back to the palace,"

ed, springing t

n," he told me. "They are initiati

followed them back in

aizen was standing toward the front of the room, his arms crossed over his chest and a stone-faced expression se

ched, obviously continuing an argument that began before I arrived at the chamber. "You

en replied. "That is precisely the reason I ca

rest solely on yourself. The breaking of a true mate bond that has been formed in true essence has been known to b

pick weakness. Someone without status, without power, without-" He cut himself off, but the damage had

ioned softly from where he was s

," he repeated, his voice raised this time, like i

the council stated. "If you choose to reject the bond formed by wolf es

I had come into the room, cold and impenetrabl

ck magic done! I will