er

cus's familiar pattern, but something i

aside the trade agreements

y concerns. "Alpha, we hav

our oldest pack members, beloved grandmothe

erything she knows, but..." Marcus

wolf surged forward, eager despite my iron control. Three

oth Marcus and my wolf. "

dily. "Emma helped raise Luna after her parents died. Are y

me bristle. "Politics has nothin

rcus stepped closer, lowering his voice. "And you know it's mor

those reports – of wild-growing plants and unprecedented healing

y wolf growled.

e you forgotten what happened th

ebrow rose. "When she demonstrated more control ove

onse to her emotions," I correct

ck bonds. Emma. The pain in it

r is climbing. And Selene's father is watching how you ha

cal blow. If Emma died because I let person

ou stay with them. Any si

ng for the door. "Though you might want to tell

right. My wolf was practically wagging its

outside, I could smell the sickness – sharp and wrong. But underneath

e. Mountain s

yself to e

oulders, so different from Selene's straight platinum locks. Luna had lost weight these past weeks, but her healer's grace remained in every movemen

e walls, others growing impossibly from cracks in the wooden

rogs in the creek pool," Emma was saying, her voice weak but amus

Luna finished softly. "I remember. You mad

hy she was our healer – not just her magic, but her heart

*Ours to protect. Look how s

noticing me. Luna's entire body t

official, to focus on anything except the delicate c

quickly. "Something she picked up in the southern

that targeted the wolf spirit was a death s

tly, still not looking at me. "B

ani

large eyes the color of spring moss, flecked with gold when the light hit them just right. The scatter of freckles across he

ght colors, but now she wore a simple black sweater that made her cream-colored skin look even paler. Yet there was something different

e dress shirt. I hadn't been sleeping well either; the shadows under my dark blue eyes rivaled Luna's. At least my black hair

aid simply. "All of it. And I'll need y

oiding for weeks. Seeing every detail I'd tried to forget – the way her small, capable hands moved as she worked, ho

breath

in to come. How desperately it wanted to close the distance between us, to

moothing the elder's sweat-soaked hair. "S

ever-" Sar

efore. It made my wolf sit up and take notice. "Marcus, woul

did the slight tremor in her hands as Marcus and I lifted Emma's

d, hating how roug

e gold-flecked eyes unflinching. "Now yo

lants in the room began to stir. Vines crept across the floor, carrying herbs I

Marcus

er voice shook slightly. "Alph

f threads connecting me to each wolf under my protection. I could feel their e

other bond. The one I'd

cents intensified. Every detail of Luna's presence burned into my awareness – the slight accelera

wolf howl

e brutal moment I felt everything she was feeling. Pain. Fear. Lone

"Everyone else out," she commanded. "What I'm about

rowled, both Alpha

me again. "But don't interf

ing the door behind them. The mo

hing ancient that made my wolf want to howl in response. The plants around us swayed to it

a's wolf

a ghostly white shape rising from her like mist. Beauti

speak, transfixed as her wolf-spirit bent over Emma, nos

st recognized. Ancient runes, maybe, or something older still. Luna's son

h. Without thinkin

rprise. For a heartbeat, she hesitated

mbled. Every reason I'd given myself for denying her seemed hollow. My wolf sur

rew back its h

room. The moonflowers bla

a deep, cl

in mine, her face drained of color. As I watche

ring her slight frame against my chest. She felt e

e was hoarse wi

she whispered. "Don't pretend

limp in

nger. Around us, the plants gradually still

impossible woman who'd just demonstrated more power

y wol

insisted. *Keep

t," I w

me since the rejecti

er cabin, since I'd hesitated far too long at her door before letting Sarah take

cus's increasingl

olling into my office without knocking. His tone was d

rwork. "I assume you have act

le. "The young wolf hasn't left her side. Very dedicated. Brings her tea, helps her tend

read across the trade agreemen

eaching for a new pen. "The

Who knew the boy had such a sense of humor? Just this morning, I heard her giggling at some

erously in my grip. My w

rcu

, Al

t o

n them anyway. Luna's still a bit weak – keeps needing support to

hattered

n an innocent tone that made my teeth clench. "Her magic responds quite positively to him. All

uggested. *Kill the p

Business." I bi

d not to check on her yourself. Even though she drained her power saving one of our elders. Even t

oug

r. Papers flew off my desk

gone. "Just once, when she first woke up. Wanted t

st tightened. "What

with wedding preparati

physical blow. My w

ruel," I sa

of the entire pack? Than letting her think her magic might get her ex

can

she uses this new magic, it proves how perfect she would be as our Luna? Can'

pped, then immediately wishe

d you know that? Unless... can you feel something thro

distance, I could see Luna's cabin. A figure – Tommy – was lead

mmed agains

w," I said stiffly. "Make sure

and Tommy to expect company. They've been having such nice quiet afternoons toget

ame cracked u

not-she

"Wouldn't find comfort with someone who openly cares for he

t.

aching her to play chess, you know. Says she has the most adora

pack bonds. In the garden, I saw Tommy'

o

y from Luna. If anythi

olf begged. *Befo

ck to my desk and re

wedding

ught made me want to

mething young