er'

g paths with him, and I intended to keep it that way. The last thing I needed was for him to discover I was th

ees scattered across the estate. The gardens were beautiful, a harsh contrast to the tough reality

olves, she counted on me for protection. The others in the servants' camp could be brutal, and my presence ke

groaned, collapsing to

It had been a long day, but something else was bothering me. For days I'd been restless

full

lly happen-my

was one thing. Feeling the wolf inside me was another. I'd waited years for t

?" Kaya asked, retying her b

on't want to live the rest

for, you know, the consequences if you try to run."

own, we might just have

od time, Kaya. I want to f

d most of the servant quarters, Ember. You said your brother was alive whe

ly without me was unbearable-not because I wanted him to suffer, but beca

ng," I said firmly,

to run, their energy thick in the air. Our camp was on the edge of the territory, bor

d behind, uninterested in the chaos of the full moon run. Most

nd waited, willing

hing ha

prickled my skin, but there wa

I missed my time? I clenched my fists, fighting

. But what if I was wrong? What if I wasn't truly

stung

nt," I whispe

ed in the distance, and I stood alone under

st. I gasped, clutching my sto

s hap

s broke and reformed. My vision blurre

es rustling, smell the earth. I looked down and saw paws-dark re

s a

rred around me. The wind rushed through

t my attention-fain

oo

r, mingled with fear. In a clearing, I found a young wolf lying in the dirt, matted

?' I thought, knowin

as warm and soft. I bit his neck gently, trying to lift him,

eard a t

fr

s, towering, thick-furred, and confident. A

inct kicked in and I leapt between them,

ze alone terrifying. I lunged

ping into my hind leg. I howled in pa

owl spli

like anything I'd heard

roze, then turned and

tching toward the sound. A s

mmering under the moonlight, bigger than any wolf I'd ever

a Th

t need to be told-I knew. The conne

a

, drawn to him

you here?' His voice, shar

peak. My wolf wanted to

I sta

aze swept over me, then

ave you

t trying t

e interfered where you shouldn't.

rward. 'Alpha, she's youn

excuse,' Th

storm. But beneath it, I felt the bond. Fragile

ry,' I w

softened,

back to camp

im. My leg's inj

owing. 'What do you want

urged

d, and you're just going to leave us here defenseless? What k

that traffics innocent peopl

id it, I knew I

azed, the air thic

I'd just signed