s trials were unlike any

, she was met with a deeper, more complex stillness-less like contempt, more like cautious curiosity. The warriors bowed, but not deeply. The Omegas serve

ress could be measured in

t like a prisoner wandering stone corridors carved with the blood of old wars, she now walked those

for. But he watched her closely. Always. And when their eyes met in the long candlelit hall

? Regret

e all

-

still not

ps the only other wolf in the fortress who dared sp

e table. Her study, once an abandoned observatory tuc

enough,"

That's not what the dark c

admitted. "And when I don

e leaned against the stone windowsill. "Y

"Do I seem like the type to throw myself at a man just

orn. That's what makes you interesting.

wned. "L

ity. Mood swings. Heightened senses. Fatigue. I

led. "Don'

trolled

ll pun

"Only provi

's not that simple, Leif. I don't even know

softly. "But in the meantime, w

straighter.

northern borders. That territory once belonged to the Bloodl

ar cold settle in h

zen. But bold enough to leav

Kael pl

ring to send a scouting force.

ked. "Ble

t your voice before they ride.

not a

eader. And leaders in

"Fine. When

oni

-

grounds in gold as Aria stood

. Their armor gleamed under the dying sun. Each carried twin crescent-shaped insigni

sion in their shoulders. Some avoided her gaze. Others met her eyes as

n front of the

ith honor,

his forehead

er behind them grew. She could feel it-the connection sparking between them. A

ched the end of the line

mor black as a starless night,

bowed and cl

her with those storm-gray eyes. Then,

the bond wel

away. "I carry it

And one day, you'll carr

reath

thout waiting

-

had shown her after the trials-tucked away between battlements, f

cheeks like a whisper. She sat on the edge of

fe in Mooncrest had been peaceful but brief. Then the

e hadn'

d, she

. Still standing

s echoed

find you here

didn'

tonight," she said. "L

han just my mate. As more than ju

to face him. "Do y

believe you're more tha

. "Then why do you

in to this bond now, it won't be gentle.

," she said, voice trembl

front of her,

peak, you sound like the future. Because you walk into every room like it's already yours. Because y

ered. Her breath ca

waiting," sh

laiming territory-but like a man asking permiss

tween them, not painful th

first time, s

let i

him

eemed to brea

moon watched