-a heavy, reckless pu

sted out o

nding up a small cloud of dust. He was stron

exhaled

t was her

landing a sharp kick to his knee. His leg buckled slightly, but

she wasn't

loded in

her stumbling backward. The impact was like being hit wit

he di

he pain and steadied herself. S

d surprised. "S

herself to focus. She couldn't over

ded a s

*

impact forced him to stumble sideways. He wa

beat. Then, murmurs of sur

didn't

n his footing, she moved ag

o her advantage. As he turned, she leaped, wrapp

ing to shake her off. His fingers c

beneath her arm, his body twisting vio

me, you

dn't let

, pressing her forearm

. He wasn't used to someone fighting smart. He was u

is body-the moment his res

as l

s became err

e dropped

sharply, using the momentum to sla

gasp from the w

her palm pressing against his throat. Not e

beneath her, his eyes w

wn, her voice ca

k I don't b

le

voice, cool a

oug

econd, then released the

ght wa

had

r-not just from victory

he weak omega they

they kn

*

rubbing his throat, his pride clearly more wounded than his body. The watching rogues murmured among

this time, they weren't fil

ga anymore. She had pr

unching against the dirt. His golde

he sm

ing through the clearing. "For someone w

wasn't the same cruel laughter

ching her breath, but refusing

ng anymore," s

ightly. "Good. Then let'

d away, clearly exp

ward, ignoring the lingering pain in her ribs. She had

*

g shadows across the gathered wolves. The night air was cool against Selina

ning to the low murmurs of the pack around her. For the first time since sh

ll ache settling into her muscles. She had won the fight, b

xed, but his sharp golden eyes never truly softened. He studi

voice carrying just enough authority t

lightly. She wasn't used to being ordered

g her sore limbs before slipping away

ing up at the stars through a gap in the c

o longer

longer ju

hey would a

ot just against the rogue, but against the image of weakness the world had forced upon her. She had been bru

tant firewood. The sounds of the camp-murmured conversations, the occasional howl in the

e rejected her. Of the bond that should have made them inseparable, now shattered beyond repair

rmin

weak. She w

Zane, to Roman, to t

nstoppable, those who had doubted her would have

ught, her tired bod