supposed to survive

tars blinked out one by one as if the univers

oster parent or two, meant to scare me into obedience. But the older I got, the more the whis

f it w

ly wasn't supp

s wrapping around my bones like a second skin. The sky above was bruised with clouds, heavy w

of the tree-lined road like the first scene of a horror movie. All I had was a du

h red wax, and scented with

ne of us.

all i

here, to a town that didn't show up on most maps and a

before the system labeled me a ward of

th sides like it was watching me. There was something eerie about t

e wors

t like

was wait

a dirt path, half-forgotten by the world. Vines climbed the stone walls like

ed above the doorknob. I half expected

or creaked open

floors worn but solid. Everything looked untouched, like someone had locked up an

pped

's when

in the hallway. My reflection stared back at me, wide-eyed and unsure. But for a second

sp

th

growing instincts that hadn't fa

being

he fire I built in the hearth was weak, but enough to keep the cold at bay. My dreams were twisted things

ll, two pairs of

ke a frozen

lowing like

up with

ne standing out

wo so

urtain aside. Two figures stood at the edge of the for

ir faces. But I fe

od wen

omehow, I

the distance, I saw it eyes like ice, glowing

e other

sound no human sho

t, they vanished

were

nd, two strangers had been standing outside my

ot even the crack of a br

still

blooming in my che

xpecting them to reappear. But they didn't. The woods held its br

that I'd seen them... or that a pa

ep the rest

ouse like a caged animal. Coffee was out of the question the power wasn't on yet, and I wasn't brave enough to t

e h

anation. Just that impossible feeling

se two

en't jus

f the puzzle my life ha

y veins like static. Like a song I couldn't sto

were

a.m., I

k at t

t was soft. Tentati

or slowly, one hand gripping the handle

ed it

into a pair of warm brown

s gor

a second skin. His dark brown hair was tousled just enough to look accidental, and a tatto

t disarmed me. Soft. Cro

ugh like gravel but somehow

How do you k

things." He shrug

a

firelight and something just sharp eno

t from her

lted. "Neith

ut not by much. "Were you... here l

is eyes dropped to my hand the o

you," he said quietly

ut w

supposed to

il

'back'? I've never

g flickering in his eyes.

said under his breath. Th

ocess that cryptic non

tst

moved beh

n he ap

othe

the window. F

he'd sliced it off himself with a blade. Eyes like frozen sky. Jaw clenched lik

really saw me he st

iverse held

muttered, voice

ci

fit like

ly and forbidden all at once. Like he d

oftly. Not surprised. Not

id, stepping back

swer. He turned

uldn't b

about to say t

incts screamed they weren't just strangers they were rivals.

ause. Can someone please tell

ason, Raven. But now that you've returned" He stepped forward

ho

blink. "

rd it a howl i

g. Not e

p. Echoing

ched. Kade cursed

arning," Luci

moving," Kade adde

hard. "A p

eyes lock

lve

ed. "You mean ac

like he was about to tell me the ki

"Shifters. Alphas. Ro

eat. I understood ex

omach twist. It wasn't just animosity. There was history

ground. Protected by bloodlines and ancient laws. The moment you set foot here, some

lt

t just any

ight. I'm the girl who wasn't

s physically hit him. "You d

rves fraying. "Because all I have is a creepy house, t

witched almost

val bloodlines," he said

rse

his nose. "You're t

ke a punch t

paperwork under red tape and 'missing records,' but I remembered that name scr

e a legacy. A weapon. And if t

s town apart," Ka

electric. Charged with something bigger

omewhere und

hing

gnit

like I knew them.

Not in names. But

y nightmares, wrapped

h fire at his fingerti

lways in

s run

ed quietly. "Why

d unreadable. "Because you turned twe

curse

orrected. "Your memories.

r to a royal wolf bloodline, I've been cursed since birth, I've got myster

m want you dead

me just want to

im y

d hit di

nder in

ed. "What the hell d

for half a second too long. "Among wolves.

marr

his head. "M

nd cold. The fire I'd built earl

you," Lucian said

e. "To your side of the te

led. Actual

rt pounding. "Okay, dia

gold. "She's not goi

u?" Lucian snapped. "How many pack

he one with a death

you're done measuring testosterone levels, c

th turn

ve got a cabin on neutral g

s safe on neutral ground. You n

" I scoffed. "After tw

you survived," h

conve

sten. We don't have time for politic

w s

d to the window. "Th

ered high, casting long

h

t the ba

sn

ngry. I

fr

himself between me and the sound, pulli

eyes

d us," Luci

didn't

door bu

the threshold fangs bared, cla

't just

s a m

as comin