hing to alleviate the isolation that held her heart. The group was gone, Tyler had t

ted and her declining abilities were insufficient to restore the vigour she required to endure this. Every snap of

sinister ideas invading her head. Survival was her only option. She

me. Wiping the grime off her face, she wondered, "What am I doing?" Running through t

Her body froze, though, at the gentle crunch of leaves behind her. A low growl vibrating the air m

g from the shadows. In the moonlight, their e

yler had forwarded them. They

h a wave of rage and dread. Every instinct shouted at her to flee; she could sense the weight of thei

r voice unsteady but resolute, "I

ent her knees, prepared to confront them. The wolves drew closer.

air passing her by had her heart racing. But it didn't seem sufficie

rt to concentrate. They can't have me, she decided. But she was exhausted, far too exhausted.

e closest wolf, she seized it. It staggered ba

lf, feeling every bit of he

person appeared. Lois could feel the air surrounding him crackling w

guy who had only saved her. Everything else vanished the once his gaze fixed o

ilky, powerful voice, sta

ng an authority she could sense down in her bones. Wind had dishevelled his dark hai

g presence disarming her m

his voice softer now as though h

red, her feelings erupted within her. She said softl

legant as though he was used to commanding attent

guy? The force around him was an Alpha's, raw and unc

is voice strong but clearly kind

ed. Alph

ave ever thought, Kade said, his gaze fixed on hers. H

nd. What was he referring to? She had only just begun to accept her treach

er head in an effort to con

rly calming his voice. "First,

orm cloud. Though his voice was steady and unrelenting, it sliced through

aid again quietly. It's w

to wipe the fog that appeared t

was overpowering as he moved closer. Lois, I have known it since the very first s

d back slightly. Shadow Mark. Every second the name tormented her; it was a force she could not c

ords clinging on her ton

ct on others, on individuals very similar to you. The Shadow Mark is a power

d me. Applied this. The treachery pierced deeper than she had thought.

ed, "I don't want this." This

Lois, you are not only anyone. You were selected. Tyler will now

heart race in her chest. "What should I do?" s

er. "You live." You learn to manage it. Lois, you will be more

ere approaching. She was a target and

on hers, "You are not safe." "Not any

safe. Repeated in her head, the words gradually grew increasingly louder. She wanted to shout, to lash o

to look Kade in the eye. "You make it sou

guy who had rescued her from the rogue wolves. Now, he gazed at her with a combination of

overnight. The strength within you should not be taken lightly. You will have to trai

. "Trust myself?" After all that's occurred? I

d something raw, something vulnerable behind his usually c

you must accept who you are if you want to liv

couldn't refute the reality in his gaze. He wasn't saying what

? she enquired, her voice

ou then. We will battle for you. It wi

er her skin, she could sense the draw of the pow

and risky. Lois, you have a decision. You can eit

se him out. The delicate but strong link between them awakened s

o attention before she could answer. Lois's muscles stiffened u

rds the edge of the woods. "Stay nea