ce at the scene and drawing all attention to himself. Aiden's instincts gleamed as he took up

ed in ice. Her attention was locked on the man-or wolf-in front of th

er voice low and tainted with somet

was tremendous, much bigger than any other wolf Aiden had ever encountered, and his hair was as black as the pitch black,

threat, strength, and something ol

n, as if warning him not to flinch. Aiden was unsure if she was being ke

permeating the words and striking Aiden li

came dense, packed with anxiety. Each move he took appeared to close in on Aiden and Sele

is chest. She had known him. She had known this wolf.

guttural voice that projected an un

id her name conveyed a subtle feeling. It wasn't just a longtim

rmur, her glance switching between the man and A

roud, Selene. Too stubborn for your own good. But you've made a mistake." He turned his focus to Aiden, hi

He stepped closer, only to find Selene's grasp on his hand

"He isn't just a wolf, Aiden. He's part of my past. My

was far worse. He took another leap forward, gliding with predatory simplicity, and Aiden i

trol. "You're up against more than you can handle." Do you believe this

e spoke again, this time louder and more determined. "So

our time is up; you believe you can prevent your fate, but you're mistaken. It's a part o

hing down upon him, a sensation he couldn't quite grasp. However, something was clear-this was b

cutting and icy, her eyes burning with new wrath. "You do

"No, Selene. I'm not here to control you. But you will come with

night. There was an sudden, terrible silence, as if time had paused, holding its breath. Then, ban

injured, and not with the odds stacked against them. He glanced back at her, but he

ed onto his, her face unreadable as if guarding some hidd

thick with disbelief. "I'm

authoritative. "There is no time for indecision. Go back

hest tightening. "No. I'm n

y too late for him, Selene. For both of you." His lips t

epped out of the darkness, its eyes flashing a ferocious golden hue. The creature was more than a wolf; it

ughts urged him to move, to act-but

ng a suppressed, agonizing plea. She began to talk, but t

happened

ing froze-an dreadful, heavy silence fell over them, like time itself had frozen its breath. Then, cru

aced with a th

houghts. A massive boom shook the tree

ing from the darkness at a faster rate than he had ever seen before. The newcomer was on them in an instant, and

heir clash was so fierce, time seemed to stand still. It was a whi

e was

rea but saw her nowhere. His pulse accelerated as he shoved the massive wolf away and climbed to his feet, only

e wa

tween both monsters clashing in front of him. She had vanished into shadows,

f he hadn't paid close attention t

growls screeched through the trees, and Aiden's stomach tig