reduced to ash hours prior, but

ayed now, an exposed nerve that hurt in the air. He couldn't sleep at night without shutting his eyes and seeing her in the forest. Not Luna, sob

n't bee

through wars, watched friends die at his feet, and made choices that

ehind him, and then the he

e?" the Bet

idn't

ire pit. He studied the cold ash, then the Alpha.

thhold my

raised. "They

hem no

he rejected you

idn't

h escape. "I warn

, eyes flashing. "You thin

think you still don't

I trusted the Council. I trusted the ev

look," Rowan

re than it o

I don't torment myself every day over that?

" Rowan's voice did not rise, but

al was held. Why the Moon Priestess

he uproar, the pressure, the rumours. The Elders had said she w

He hadn't strugg

ht her to the cl

ng the pack,"

r reputation," Rowan sa

air, his head in his hands. "

r a long time. Then,

nce

down on him as if a knife wa

orst

given. Whether he was worthy of the bond. He didn'

ll drew him in.

" he said at last

. You simply liked her

cowled

n, Kael, it won't be with flowers and regrets. You'd have to beco

irepit, at cold ashes

know if

id, turning to leave. "Befo

osed softly

-Alpha in a pack,

owering above the valley like an ever-watchful god. Inside, firelight flickere

interlocked, eyes fixed on a map pinned with minuscule silver pins. His wolves s

an dressed in dark blue-Maris, his advisor and so-called blood sister. Her eyes were

ise his head. "N

yebrow. "And you

d lazily

eyes. "You're pla

lway

he air shifted. Even his wolves leaned back a

toward the fire. "She doesn't crave protectio

ach her like sh

d, eyes appearing slightly red under the dim lightin

head. "Do you pla

n't answe

cautiously. "That bond does not break just because she hates h

sn't deserve her. He had her loyalty a

ing to use her for

oing to give her something r

off your hand tr

e she

ng. "And what if she doesn't bite?

a whisper. "Then I'

the silver tokens across the map. It struck

el is. What the Council is. And she'll

him. "And if

gain, colde

l take he

ne slept not at

kness. In

to the

irling above, time stilled. In front of her, the Moon

d. "And already, the pieces mov

tice," Selene said. "I d

greed. "But power n

en waits. And something very old a

n eyebrow. "Wha

ot the onl

le

a flame, child. Brilli

hed before Selene

ned, burning deep w

woke wit

howl rose-long, l

Ka

Cade

lse had joi

t was