la Cr

window and

are footprints leading across the grass toward the east wing. A glimp

as S

tly. *She saw nothing but a faint light in

ally true?"

l be watching you. Be

head, tucked my hair over my ear, and sat on the edge of my bed with my hear

ot slee

a maid knock

as asked me to tak

ouldn't believe i

dark wooden floors, and tall windows that filled the halls with morning light. In the dining

od up when

s whole face changed from a hard Alpha to a boy

lit

mself. "I didn't sleep either. I

ed. "You didn'

ing straight into m

etend that this was simple. I was just a girl having

his cup and rubbed

ing I have to tell you

dropped. "W

about our bond." He took my hand across the table. "Ironclaw has had no Lun

n't wolfless,"

ld them it doesn

matters

d around mine. "I won't let

wrapped around mine, and I wanted

ll chairs set in a half circle. The elders sat in them like judg

od at the far end in pale blue silk dress, with her hair loose over her shoulders, and she gav

ed awa

named Corvin, leaned on his cane. "Alpha M

said calmly. "The Goddess chose. Veril

hunt, run beside her Alpha under the Blood Moon, and stand at the front o

ers murmured

g Crawford bloodline,"

snapped. "Twenty years, Beta Richard, and her wo

I knew I should stay quiet, but the word

f has s

room wen

ou say?" Co

," I said, and my voice

oved. Then Selene let

f talking to a child. "We all know

uckled. My father's fa

lying,"

ve it," C

ze. "

n. It is an ancient law that has not been used in a hundred years. When a Luna's w

in three days," Ma

act

cruel,

l will declare your bond false. She will lose the title of Luna and be sent out of th

od ran

r twenty years. If I failed, I would lose Marcus, my t

ddenly, and her voice was sharp with fear. *If the

asked silently. *W

dn't a

took me out into a quiet corri

," he said. "I'll talk to the elders

can't?" I

d he looked away. That was when I

I said.

red false. Under pack law, I would have to take another mate w

ho

swer. He did

r pale blue dress, with the sun shining on her golden hair. She l

already picked

s my