heart s

r head sharpl

y

thinking she

tood, her long hair

es-looking at Tara with somet

stepping forward. "I thought it

n gave up. Her shoulders shook as s

elt bes

wrapped her arms around Tara like she wasn't planning to hurt her, as though the

. "We mated, and he rejected me. It

htly brushing Tara's back.

feel like a part

idn't

er closer, like

ched the longer

oking up into Ayla's face. "I

ut there was something in her

ut it didn't

," she said. "You did what y

to Ayla, her friend who had always been there fo

xt mor

g since she had been rejected. Ayla's eyes were sharp, calculating. She'd nev

ack is searching for you. the longer you stay hidden, the worse

think about Landon or the pack . S

lace, far away from all of this. You'll be safe there.

ght -staying wasn't an option. Not with Landon's family searching for her

, Tara nodded. "Ok

Tara pack what little she had, and toge

d become. The usual sounds of the forest were missin

lmost there," Ayla said, her

to break free of the bond. But as they walked deeper into the woods, a sense of dread b

d. Tara looked around, confused. There wa

Tara asked, he

a loud noise behind them. Tara turn

e stepped out from the

old. "What is this

ou think I was going to let you go free?"

dropped. "You

hing? You're a threat. To the pack. To me. I've worked too hard to

n, but the rogue was faster, gra

ime she screamed, it was too

e was a dark satisfaction in her eyes. Tara was go

n pack, Landon wa

e bond he broke himself. He told himself it was for the pack's sake

cus. the pack needs you. They're pressuring me to find a solutio

"I can't. Not after ev

pack's future depends on this marriage. Ayla would strengthen o

ng about Tara. The rejection still haunted him. He was torn -stuck between his duty

didn't understand. She had played her cards well, keeping he

"Fine. I'll marry her. But not becau

eth. Her plan was movin