blurs of strange routin

r than she was. Alex's pack walked like wolves even when they were human nimble, on guard, ready to c

te ceremonies, no gilded courtyards or silk robes. This pack was raw and rou

didn't tr

er, "everybody's gotta show the

. Fixing meals. Silent things

n the others slept. Staring at the moon. And

fth night that N

am, scrubbing blood from crushed leaves when her reflection

howe

ary yet watchful. Eyes f

n vanished. "But her heart

whispered, placing a hand o

softly, as if it were finall

hen a

itter. Fai

itching. Her instincts sharp

same poison tha

m the stream. It was co

seams. Her fingers touched a secret pouch has it been stitched int

it with tre

a Moon ceremony was exactly what he

ture. Just a crue

e... knew. Knew she was gone. Knew someone had m

lied? Did he know from t

then hesitated. A tw

ed, eyes

there, arms crosse

spiked.

tly, moving forward. "But I knew that rogu

ou let me stay. Waiting to

"That note was placed by one of my wol

believe him

e," he told her. I

"And you shouldn't

d. Just a little. "Good. Wh

the river murmur

the note once more an

dead," she said. "Let

lowly. "What

p at the moon,

s. And

the whispers had

rl who had fir

pha act... wei

scovered alone

gnored

o. Clues to gathe

ng, she had the vow

w face. But I a

til the enemies who murde

and echoing throughout the Crystal Blue Pack's grand h

plause followed. Laughter. Smiles not quite forgetting

had been dead

, her throne

. She donned white the mockery of mourning's purity. Her hair tumbled down her back in perfect

e was chisel

ers proclaimed the Luna Moon Ceremony was completed

ac

hat voice would be screaming i

ied her

d in the pack's periphery, burned beyond recognition, her scent weak but linge

ething not quite righ

r last

ing dread be

t had started wearing Naomi's ol

d Damian in his ear, as if she could hear his thoughts.

nd c

urled his sto

ntact with her fingers. The cheer got

e said, walking

e. She just gazed after

 darling," she muttered. "You 

is fists balled at his sides. Time ambled p

ldn't

had treated her as if six days was sufficient to wipe out a L

uing his line. Her wolf had been weak. But she'd bee

im even as he'd s

face. What the hell i

andered to the

had appeared an

sleep. Claimed she had sniffed wolfsbane at the

ld've l

ere that night and

e protec

fail

circled him

-a s

ed up. Familia

s Nao

Tainted with

oss

ng his feet toward the edge of the training grounds

e was

mething had com

ent

o the surface, g

kward, heart pound

could

was

n't

f Naomi's old mirror, stroking her go

lose and adm

red. "You always had the crown, Naom

all velvet pouch. Inside little glass

nly take

een weak. Always t

, she i

softly. "Poor Damian. He'

re interrupted by

d the pouch

nervous. "Alpha Damian just left the

ime, Violent sm

he sa

But he loo

r. Where Naomi's remains had been

had