E's

it me before I stepp

. The third was barely clinging to life, breathing in ragg

again?"

tterns. Same north ridge. No scent trail,

er wolf. Jonas. Eighteen

ound mine.

trength," I

im. "You should've seen the wa

huddered, t

ts, and something inside me twiste

exhau

olves do I have to lo

ass of whiskey I wasn't even drinki

k was f

ery week, patrols sent

r, starting to wonder if I was st

hey wer

decisive, terrifying. I'd spent too long pretending to be unt

making Ayla's life h

d the gla

lp

in. Her gray braid was damp from

s it?"

ming back. She'll

ike a blow I di

ked. "

Mae's death. Said she'd

rt than half the damn pack combined. O

ed around the e

I said flatly

I sat back and let

y

nd I heard her name, every bur

spoke, like she was never sure she'd be heard. The trembl

nce. Over and over, until

er looked

. That omegas like her didn't matt

Gods help me, I re

he was co

wasn't already p

er all. Perhaps the universe was giv

~

t the east

buzzed like electricity. My wolf paced behind my ribs, r

I saw

s, hood pulled low, bag

fr

omething wild. My breath caught. My body lo

n't see

I sa

ger. Shoulders straighter. Eyes harder. B

e lande

opped

aid, steppi

leave the flowers? Or do you want to

a, w

alk. I'm here for Mae." S

I should've said

ed. Just

breath. "

ow and sharp.

es

me? For making me feel like trash?

e didn't shake-but g

tarted falling, soft and steady. Her hair

d your guilt

. "But I nee

really looked-and

eath c

did

hen i

skin. Like fire and ice

mate

ed back h

es went w

mouth. Nothi

nds tr

nt between us thickened, that unmistaka

, like she could undo it

dn't

er di

t stoo

ch history. One bond t

truth spirali

growled out before