g my mouth was i

muscular arm that held me firm. My heart thunde

tent energy coursing through

fear tightening its grip on me. 'Not

ee, a calm, steady voice

mooth yet commanding. "The

ills run through me. My mind raced as I strained to see his face through the di

en giving orders earlier,

wondered. 'Does he think

for air. My legs shook as I tried to process what had just

n," he sa

because of him. The moonlight caught his face as

. . . s

ly even in the dark. His dark, wavy hair fell just past his shoulders, framing his chiselled

core, sudden and entirely inappropriate. I sque

HIS SE

rowled in my mind,

er my mouth. "Shut up!" I hissed through

head, deep and teasing. 'STRONG.

'You take your urges and s

golden eyes narrowing sligh

d, my voice embarras

, willing the heat

time, you damn be

purred in amuse

ad, I cleared my throat and l

Then he released my wrist. "Follow me," he said, his tone leaving no room f

d my voice. "Who . . . who are you?" I whisp

ht of the moon. "My name is Kema," he said. His voice was

tumbled. "

ady back on the path ahead. "Yes. S

had been used to frighten children into obedience for as long as I could remember. Ruthless enforc

an eagle's wing, just as the stories had described. The black c

hen I realized something else. If he knew what I was-wh

clearing, and my stomach droppe

earth to entangle a snarling werewolf-from its yellow eyes and bloodstained fur, it was likely the same werewolf that had fled at the sound of Kema's voice. The beast thra

des. With controlled movements, he struck at the rogue,

imbs were partially transformed, his powerful claw

mine tightly. I glanced up at him and noticed the faint glow of his now reddened eyes, the long cl

. The once-feral beast lay still, its snarls silen

n evident on her face. The ice mage inspected his marred blades with chilling indifference as the werewolf who partially transformed s

m of the rogue. 'That could've been me,' I sw

of my spiraling thoughts. "S

wing him as he

Kema said to his team. His tone was cl

e murder of the timber

ced myself to stay calm. His lie w

asked, raising an eyebrow. "

olden eyes unreadable. "I'll take her back

sing gazes stayed fixed on me as Kema le

, Kema stopped abruptly. He turned to

e," he said, his voice low but furious. "

beat, a cold drea

kn