rong surrounding the ceremonial circle in a blessed glow. It should have been the most joyful momen
otherwise. My wolf, Solara, stru
t, she breathed soft
ircle around me, their watchful eyes with a dim moonlit sheen. At the front of the gathering was Alpha Ronan Nightshade-the strongest alpha of the eastern realms. He
o
s my
coursing through every fiber of my being. My breath caught. My vertebr
pack gas
clared, advancing a step. "Lilith Blac
e. I moved forward, prepared to offer my neck in
curled into a c
ject
ence erupted into chaos. Whispers. Gasp
ked. "
"I, Ronan Nightshade, Midnight Howl Pack Alph
cream that could only be muffled by myself. My knees gave way, and I put a han
this isn
. "You're weak. Your wolf is weak
escent-shaped birthmark that disfigured my shoulder like a splatt
n, frowning. "Alpha, t
ed mate," Ronan growled. "Let
e thunder. My parents never moved
cle of wolves who once
Elder Yara spoke up. "Lilit
creamed no, but my pride. my pr
I said, my v
t the breaking finished. The hot, sacred ti
uch as a glance. "Let's continue. My
r golden curls bouncing, her lips cu
our challen
eered. My wo
slay them. She was quiet.
-
the forest. My feet were bleeding. My
d. Black wind howled, its secrets uttered in a language older than
eathed. "This is w
red onto the ground, some
rth tr
ent, not human-roa
Lilith Blackthorn
rm. My eyes cycled backward in their sockets as energy that wasn't even comparable to
id not
mil
-
Before th
ce wrapped around me as she twirled a curl of her hair in the
. She'd always had a way of cutting with ho
er whisper so. Because the way he'd once looked at me-that fleeting perfect stare
o I
-
Fight wit
dad growled, voice rumb
want to,"
irst," my mother cursed. "Then a
daughter!"
. "You brought shame to our name. From
-
nto the
st me as guards chased
wled. "She's headin
breath hurt. Every heartbeat th
e, but the moment I crossed the l
ordered. "She's wo
n I was
-
of the
A queen who defied the Moon Goddess and chose darkness over
I heard. It was her
throne carved out of obsidian, with souls dancing around me. A
n," she said, "but y
e you?"
t you cou
-
Re
the sky above me was
ck energy. My wounds had hea
reflection, I no
w a
-
lames. His wolf shifted uncomfortably inside him. He rubbed at his chest as if something h
late a
hrew away wou
. would return to bu