Shadows o

MA

skin like an omen. The echoes of Derek's departure still clung to the grand hall, a spectr

d in the air-something

t beyond anger or resentment, beyond grudges and pack politics. It was wron

sn't just

nder led me through the winding halls. It was in the paintings of past Alphas that lined the passageway-silent w

the nape of

. The rogue who ha

in these wall

like unseen serpents, hushed voi

ld have st

s a th

come f

w who

my wrist remained firm, his thumb idly tracing patterns agains

cla

th

o

rked beyond sight, wat

ir surface scarred with claw marks-deep, jagged reminders of battles fou

into his private chambers. The moment the doors shut behind u

that?" I hissed, my

g into that insufferable smirk. "That,

paraded me through the estate like some kind of trophy.

gaze. "Oh, Amara." He took a slow step toward me, an

n, unseen but undeniable-like the

was a w

f shifting uneasily beneath my skin

I don't need you to fig

t." His gaze flicked downward, to my clenched hands, then back up to my f

ing deep, something I di

of me wanted t

hated

y voice to remain steady.

kle escaping him. "No," he said. "But y

ll snaked d

to him. "What

trieving a crystal decanter. The amber liquid inside caught the moonlight as he poured hims

, he

't just ang

. "Then wh

im of his glass. For the first time tonight, there was no

sper

ded between u

urled. "Despe

he window. Beyond the glass, the moon hung low,

sh what h

kened, pressi

he'll come

darkened. "I don't

s voice made my

d. "If he tries,

it. "You don't understand, do you?" He took another sip o

gain, and when he spok

t try to kil

eath c

hat does

his is about revenge? About the past?" His voice dropped, a whisper of something dangerous. "

lse qu

en w

chin up, forcing me to hold his gaze. "B

nt a tremor t

ing was

had always

Moon thinking I understood

't known th

something far bigger than myself,

wasn't just ab

something far

been waiting in the

that want

r n

ied me more than