en sky to celebrate their heritage, test their skills, and strengthen the bonds that tied them to each other and their ancestors. Bonfires blazed li

was a night

never been

es while Serene and the others basked in the warm, pulsing heart of the pack. The so

ght was

ked along the moonlit path toward the gathering. The flickering glow of the bonfires painted

ease, smirked down at her. "You need to stop hidi

l. "I'll be here. No one's going to mess with you." His voice was gravelly, fir

to ignore the nervous twist tightening her stomach. Her finge

admirers. Her laughter rang out, high and polished, but her attention wasn't truly on them. Her

re

lpha'

who already knew the weight of command would one day rest on his shoulders. Every young she-wolf in the pack

d it with the same cold precision she used to dominate every other p

ng on Cassius, who stood at Derek's side. Cassius, her ever-loyal shadow. Grinning l

etch, flatter, follow and that was the

De

sn't

s her

l out to him, to make her presence

nease slid do

e had entered

ant

ips curled

ca

rby wolves. The firelight caught the highlights in Samantha's striking hair-vivid, colorful strands that shimmered unn

t her screamed

hurned with jealou

ze, let out a groan. "Ugh

tered, her voice low and d

n Derek

found S

hifted in his expression. Cu

ough her like the

saw

ene's absolute h

followed but this time, he wasn't heading toward Serene. He was heading stra

of the gathering, didn't notice him at first. But then he was t

nked, s

" Derek's voice was low,

. How does he

swered, cauti

lingered, thoughtful. "You don'

on her feet. "Not

w. "Not a fan of th

oice honest. "I was

rder entered his eyes. He glanced

rstood.

attention back to her. "You'r

aving her disoriented. Derek, of all peopl

say more, a voice

er

it belonged there. Her voice dripped sweetness. "Didn't see you come in," she

didn't lean into her either.

," he said, pulling h

"I'm sure she has better things to do," she said ligh

ha sti

"We were actually about to grab some foo

Serene had already hooked his arm again, steering him

ek's arm as they walked. Ca

laughed. "She didn't belo

answer. Her mi

looked a

talked t

en curious a

beneath her skin,

's taken my mother's love.

OT takin

began to rise into the night air, Serene's l