orning mist. His heart pounded with each leap, each bound taking him farther

ng downwind and hidden. Seeing her transform into that magnificent black wolf

werful than anyone

in the clothes he'd stashed in a hollow tree. His tall frame moved w

came from behi

arcus Reed, a stocky man with sh

id, his voice tight. "S

rumors are true. She'

quick defense of Serena. "He's using her. I saw their tra

? What

d snaked from Serena's wolf form, the way they'd drained the

een before," he admitte

k to the pack," Marcus said

f form to cover ground faster. By midday, they'

modern comfort and nature. Elegant homes nestled among ancient trees. Paved paths wound

oking the entire territory. Built of stone and gla

eet their Alpha with respectful nods. But Elia

..she's with Nightfang now..."

ver the once-peaceful community. Elias felt the weight

and women, each with decades of wisdom and experience, sat around a large o

he paced the length of the

ng Pack," he finally announced.

urmurs fill

e oldest of the elders. Her silver hair framed a face

veryone keeps hinting at some disas

a man at her right-Owen Vale, Serena's uncle and the o

said, his voice heavy with

orn leather book. Its pages yellowed wi

enerations. It tells of a time when wolves were divided-some follo

made Elias's blood run cold-a black wolf with tendrils of shad

owers of darkness. For centuries, we believed they were extinct. But the signs were ther

ce shook with anger. "Before I rejected her?

ed silence. It was decided that if Serena showed

?" Elias

not meeting Elias's eyes. "

s. His wolf clawed beneath

" He stopped, unwilling to speak the word th

er. Still loved her,

phecy speaks of two paths. If the Onyx wolf bonds with her true mat

he'd witnessed-Lucian calming Serena when she l

Alpha not destined to be her mate, her powers grow cor

room as the weight o

ud. "He's known all along what Serena is

he'll control power beyond imagination. He'll use

ut at the pack lands he'd sworn to pr

ponsibility too. His t

iled he

turning back to face the elders. "I'l

"The bond between Alpha and wolf gr

the confusion in Serena's eyes when Lucian

from his position by the door.

show of force will only push he

territory is crawling with Lucian's wolves.

's face. "Not if I don't go

in Marcus's eyes. "Yo

onight. Under co

as's arm. "There's something else you

She died

alone. "That's what we wanted everyone to believe. The truth is...

she?" Elia

ke you to her before you lea

no pack markings, Elias followed Owen deep into the

visible among the trees. Smoke curled f

nstructed. "Let me

ickling sensation raised the hair on Elia

ot wolf, but something in between. Its eye

into the night, leaving behind only a whis

im, Alpha. The darkness cho