ere roaming the sky. The wind made little whispers with the trees and every being it came and c

a while now. She was as restles

s a habit that soothed her-a way to escape the noise of her pack, of politics,

ad sent

ve the mating c

er teeth at

. The thought made her chest burn. She loved her pack. She would di

blood stopp

coppery

refoot, her form half-shifted-claws replacing fing

he hea

vo

commanding voice. Selene

it was calm,

. Through the shadows she saw him. He knelt facing a being. A wolf? A large wounded bloodied wolf. Hi

ing her best to resist him but he

of her sc

g to him... she di

t from a

h a quick sniff of the a

ional and precise manner . "You're going to be okay, try to

forward, reve

s head l

the world stopped s

. Recognit

id, knowing. Her wo

a

ouldn't be.

it

her tissues and then to her bones like a lightning strike.

h her die," he said. His voice was low and steady, but his eyes never left hers. "I found her bleed

erged as a growl.

I figur

l, broad-shouldered, hair tousled from wind and effort. Blood stained his sleeves, but

you last time

and I live past the ridge,

ng

itself into her

n't be here

he replied smoothly,

blin

usually noti

not scar

gaze. "Sh

urled slig

ran. "Look, I can stitch her up. But she needs care

reamed to reject him-to run. But her wolf

e wound. A deep gash, likely from a

hey both held their breaths as they looked at each other. Sel

that," she

eny it. "Wh

se. "Come

tated.

e will take the wolf. An

at he was. But he

need to

Niran slung gently over Mingi's shoulde

erous. Like she was stepping cl

y stones, Alia and Aeron were

rrowed. "You br

ene snapped. "And he'

k at Mingi and fr

" Selene

ooked unsettled. "Okay, some

. "Take Niran. Patch hi

not planning to take him into

with me. Th

ed, taking Niran and dis

ingi. "Come. There

at the trees. "Is th

. "It's just t

and led him back to where he was from a

orframe. "You still haven't

y to explain this. But I need you to unde

wai

I... we'r

ou

Soul-tie

e this last time. What

t a man I met in the woods. You're...

e fell

foot away. "I felt it too. That spa

human," she

nked.

man could carry a wolf that size without help. Or sense w

s something strange in our bloodline. But he never

rt raced. "C

know

as once an ally to the old Alpha. H

sharply. "H

g. "Mingi... you may be the last of so

nswer, a low rumb

ed. Shadows danced

eyes we

she wh

t is

or ble

oorway. Tall. Cloaked in darkness.

you," i

ed forward,

was t

hand-and black flame