. Serena woke to Mira sha

ng grounds," Mira said, her ey

pillow. She had slept with it in her palm all night, Ron

erena asked, shaking

Hurry-Lucian does

rcle of wolves gathered, their faces a mix of curiosity and distrust. Lucian stood in the center, bare-ch

n he spotted her. "You

rning into her back. Lyra stood at Lucian's right, her red hair

?" Serena asked, trying to

wolf is powerful, but wild. If you

ething at Serena's feet. A rabbit-f

Lucian

im. "Here? Now? In

on't give you p

e pack watched silently as she folded each item and placed it

hed, skin darkened to midnight black. When it was done, Serena stood on four

Even Lyra's hate-filled expression f

," someone

r slowly. "Now, I

dead rabbit, her wo

ian added. "With your pow

d through her. W

ian said. "Let it guide yo

hat had always frightened her-surged forward eagerly. Blackness s

n, to Serena's horror, the rabbit began to shrivel, its form collap

d experienced. The darkness inside her howled

cian said.

, spreading beyond the rabbit to the grass

n's voice harde

y-after being caged for so long. It wanted every

osing control!"

oward them. One caught a young wolf who hadn't moved quickl

Lucian roare

rena saw the young wolf collapse. Horror b

ouldn't listen. It

own wolf tackling her black form. Pain shot through her as his teeth

voice fill

unexpected happened. Instead of fighting her darkness, Lucian's

d, slithering back into Serena's bod

g on the ground, tears streaming down her face. Lucian knelt beside he

a, who rushed forward. "Everyone else, cl

young wolf she'd attacked. Others were helping him stand, his f

killed him,"

dn't," Mira

nder furs, still shaking. When Lucian enter

onster,"

her. "You're untrained

ne of you

ou did-consuming life energy-it's a unique ability of

You knew this would happen? Yo

learn control." His amber eyes held hers.

do you

gentle. "Our wolves connected. That shouldn't be possible

wline, sending unexpected

ed, his voice dropping lo

he sat, of the warmth radiating from his body. Confusion swirled inside her. This w

his touch f

the moment. Lyra stood there, f

she said, her voice brittle with ra

He rose to his feet, his gentl

ordered Lyra. "Don't

yra's cold eyes

hissed, "but I know better. The last female who caug

ing Serena alone with her

eyes seemed to glow in the dim light as a realization hit her-the s

as Storm's silver wolf howled, calling to something