ankets, but her thoughts restless. She could still feel the ghost of Alfred's touch from the night before-the moment

claim

ook- a defiance thrown into the faces of every

who she was. But they didn't trust her. And A

s. The air smelled faintly of cedar and smoke. She pulled her robe tighter around her, padding silently across the woode

g time, her fingers curl

nce the village burned and she'd run with nothing but her scars and a soul that

ra

lik

erritory. It was him. His presence. His command. His unwillingness to look away from her even

the window and

slick with sweat as they shifted, spun, and struck under the watchful eyes of the Beta, Gavin. His vo

coat. Some of the pack members glanced her way-some with curios

vin noti

"Annabelle," he greeted, not warmly but not unki

small smile and he

helps me

, reading quickly.

Your Alpha. Your peop

changed-less guarde

ing toward Alfred at the far end of the field

owed Gav

his torso, the faint outline of old scars peeking through. But it was the expression on his face that struck her-composed, but

Even if you can't use your voice. He needs... grounding

regrets me? sh

n fr

s afraid of what

h

dream, Annabelle," he said sof

oks, maps, and relics of old wars. A fire burned low in the hearth, casting a mute

tand when s

to the chair across

ed. "A rogue pack crossed into our borders last night near Hollow Ridge.

's blood

ly twenty miles from

cked your village," he continued. "We

no

a team nor

ise. You're leading

eyebrow. "You

k her head. It's

rowing. "Everything is dangerous, Annabel

oat tig

have to

a, and two trackers will come

then scribble

that followe

stood

an

ou haven't shifted. Y

they move. I kno

. "And if they recognize you? If they scent your blood

ie standing

t her for a

e walk

aid n

e stood by the

ound her throat, boots laced high. Her eyes

ped. "You'r

odded

eply. "If any

l r

te himself. "Of

was differe

e wind carried secrets. And the wolves-silent and swif

vin, her eyes constantly

ront, his senses tu

he ridge. The scent hit her

he half-burned ruins of what looked like an abandoned outpost

. somethin

in

n doorframe, kneeling beside it. Her finger

fr

ame s

lashed throu

she'd grown up in. On the corpse of her mot

eath c

red beside h

s it?"

ted to t

: They were hunting me

d at her

n't

w tigh

time we f

ned just b

the day, dreams fragme

he was sum

ms crossed, the fading light c

nting you," h

no

of them aliv

yes w

y. "And he said a name be

elle

"Does that mean

art st

k her he

e was

was her fath

ed when they ran

spoken since she

. "Annabelle. What ar

e, hand

ything... will you

n't he

ready

e looked into his eyes

just

just

ch

mething neither of

-

hadows in long, distorted lines. Annabelle sat motionless in the chair, her

t thundered

we

ng. He hadn't said why- only that the name carried death and secrets like a second skin. She hadn't questioned him

d been runni

hiskey curled through the air as he leaned ag

you're telling me," he sai

picked up

dn't

ories... they've always been fragmented

this rogue attack- your village, your sile

w. The mark

The crescent slashe

the image

neath the old council hall," he murmured. "It's the symbo

's stomac

hard. "You're descen

dded s

his breath and turned away

h

a," he growled. "You're a threat. To them. To us

ckly, the notepad s

t ask f

w," he

enched, but he didn't argue. Instead, he c

t. It tugged at something in her core, drawing her cl

at this means, don

no

yone outside this pack

l come

l come

ked up

"And I will not

rst day. Not since he'd told her she couldn't possibly be the one

e out how to protect you. How to protect the pack fr

hide me. Let me train. Let me

enly, his fingers brush

weak," he murmured. "B

no

start t

the training field beside Gavin and a slender, sharp-eyed woman named Rhea-the pack's second

fted?" Rhea aske

Alfred replied from th

Then she's no u

orward. I don't nee

smirked.

le nodd

sharp. Annabelle was slower, rusty, but determined. She dodged what she co

idn't

instinct

ed faintly from within. As if awa

stood breathless and

e, then nodded in ap

ned with somethin

methin

ses

night. Her body grew stronger. Faster. Her reflexes sharpened. She was still mute, st

lfred's

cony overlooking the valley. Moo

than I expected,

nd scribbled: And w

irl with a

ink the bond

mitted. "No

, the breeze catching

what

uiet for

nd chance I d

eak again. Just reached out and brushed a strand of hai

didn't

arrived in blood. A body- dumped just outside the Crescent Vale borders. A

t in horror. Gavin's face paled. Alfred read the

ow she's