rget the moment you'r

ppen in front of his ex, his ri

d. Not after seeing my own reflection betray m

just Rave

ething that made people bo

wakened she-wolf with trauma and

ra

cabin. Barefoot, because shoes felt like a

ed me like an old friend. The moon watched above

g to my hair. And my heartbeat thumped in

ispered: Run fast

n't ready

t

owing who the

av

d through the tr

Comma

ci

lowed me. Of cou

knowing where you were even whe

him step into the moonlight,

black shirt rolled to the elbows, dark pants, boots.

ng until you collapsed?" he a

gged.

"The woods are da

did you

cause I had no inte

ts? I crossed my arms, because letting him s

ay things like t

y n

ou don't m

d

You don't ev

ow step forward.

ent bloodline. That makes me what,

d, eyes narrowing. "You think I dragged

n't

ir between us tightened

of Seraphine. In front of Kade.

tripped o

to protect me

erously low. "No. I sai

tep back.

ngs like that and expect

el it too. I see it in your eyes every time

that he

like I was the only thing in the world w

s," I said, v

brushed the side of my face. G

e to stop,"

oul

p me I

pilling out fast, frantic. "Is it fate? Magic? Biology? I don

softened, but

ght, Raven. It's choice

hat made

wild, buried part of me

respond before I

ound r

e. A t

hen h

s of

sharp,

fened. "The

ho

de exploded through the tr

ttoos that shimmered with heat. His eyes glowed g

g for her," he

tantly, stepping

I asked

ue alphas. They want t

d went

someone's coming

rimly. "Multiple. And if t

pulsed outwar

them

olden eyes and snarling fangs-rogue wolves ste

d into the clearing, somethi

elt it rising like a tide, whispering things in

t. Protect w

y. His back was broad, shoulders t

is skin shimmered with veins of black ink, the

tered. "All arme

s don't come this close to royal land

bo

led. Not from

how that this mom

re for territor

ere to stea

, and they shimmered fain

I asked, t

cause your blood calls to th

shoulder. "And becau

m n

Until the ritual is sealed, they can ch

," I finishe

n my chest. N

I didn't care what kind of wolf magi

to be anyone

n't blink.

and pulled out a dagger long, silver-ed

t to me wit

What am I suppose

ve," h

sn't co

was h

st rogu

defied logic. Bones cracked, muscles snapped, and suddenly he wa

e violent. His wolf form was leaner, wilder, with

beasts-no, two alphas fight

se it

narls, the sound of flesh hitting

broke from the pac

think.

in my grip. Too natural. Like my

ed, fan

, slashe

ood spraying

bing me, pinning me to the

him," he hissed. "You

, something slammed int

to a tree, and shifted halfway back to h

ay?" he

hough my entire

anned me. "You're to

softer tha

from his lip. "Don't g

my arm, his breath hot on my cheek when Lucian returned, h

, blood seeping into his shirt but

red with groaning rogu

ween me and Kade,

ected her

take her," Kade said, vo

een them hit lik

orward, towering

the hell ou

way," Kade snapped, "

ooked at

eally

ormy. V

n ch

ring wen

art p

didn't know

now if I was allow

hoose," I

pped like gla

"You'll have to. So

his fingers curled into fists at his sides. L

som

asn't sure which

g. "I didn't come here to fall into some ancient bloodline ri

ound him was thick with royal alp

carries a legacy. A power that hasn't awakened in generations. That cu

nd what being yours i

ed. "Being mine is t

ld fire back

pped between us and gently-alm

one to break it," he said. "You

n Lucian's prophecy-heav

sn't just offer

ffering

rnage of battle behind us, the weight of somet

I cr

a l

ce small. "Everything's happening too fast. The

e softened.

us help yo

d hard. "B

ebrow. "That's go

d like he wa

he d

nod. "Until she chooses, sh

," Kade s

two alphas breathing down my nec

of the

gu

tried to swarm us when they saw the blood, but Lucian waved the

verything loo

ile I was gone, and now thi

e doorway. "Rest.

he window, arms cross

ed. "Se

ious

"You think I'm letting

oy. I'll stay o

en them. "You'

d to me. "Ju

d. "And pr

. One after the oth

d

bed, fully clothe

ouldn't

age of Lucian's

mory of Kade's

er still glowing beneath my vei

t, I drea

e, I wasn't j

as

earing a crown of bone and flam

t before me

ehind me, sw

raised her v

ne break. Let th

then

i

ryw

mple, the wolv

ke that wasn't real and

nd someone

ci

is shirt still stained with blood, his ches

id quietly. "The d

rely there. "It

the edge of the bed l

s a me

d. "Fro

down at his ha

y head. "

not telling you. The curse didn't begin with yo

caught.

always

nly furious. "And you

want to

la

need to know everyth

en meet me in the

the

s where your p

ut without

sat

ak

ak

ai

tely, comp