them like a secret swall

ion blurring around the edges. Kade didn't offer words of comfort or reassurance. He didn't glance back to see if she wa

a place with lights.

e bones of the forest-i

lf-swallowed by moss and thick roots. The wood looked weathered by storms and time, slats warped and gray, shutters hang

didn't

e the luxury o

or with one boot, nodding

skin. There were no candles, no carved symbols, no signs of life beyond the sparse furniture-

peak. He di

ar the fire. Her body groaned in protest. Her ribs ached with every breath, and her hands trembled uncontrollably. B

shed into th

a

ques

ce, she wa

ions. She didn't want

nted s

abin gave

ving thing. Shadows pooled in the corners like secrets too old to speak

in the Silver Hollow Pack, where eyes cut lik

n't fee

n't fee

lt...

pok

eth

rrifying-but

ed behind he

with hard lines. His dark hair was damp, curling faintly at the nape of

omeone who belo

filled with water, steam curling faintly from

inked

ounds. Didn't cradle her

flatly. "Or don't. I don't care. J

his voice. No cruelty,

r chest-an emotion so brittle

laug

oud. It was

in the world-a rusted h

faintly, but h

ater and pressed the cloth to the woun

move. Didn't

dn't leav

entinel of smoke-and watched her begin to pull

bond flared

ing el

ing qu

de

ld

sa

tr

lence-Aria realized that migh

d to fall into beneath furs scented with pack and safety. No. This sleep was fragment

soft to belong in a place like this, each

gaze like a blade, Lyla's smirk curving like a dagger's edge.

just bef

es of the cabin like sleeping ghosts. Her bones ached. He

s more jarring th

neath her ribs. Her fingers curled in the furs as she scanne

she saw

a

e with short, precise strokes. The rhythmic rasp of steel on stone was the on

er once-quick, unreadable

lowly. "You do

avel, torn by days o

estions," he replied

tone-just truth. Clean. S

she wat

r darker inkwork-tattoos partially hidden beneath the frayed edge o

Pine. Earth kissed by frost. But

nk. No

we

ething that hummed under his ski

st a rogue," s

pause. Just

s head, but his s

st a cast-out Luna

back straightened.

ond I saw you i

the furs, knuckles p

idn't

mmedi

e who'd learned never to startle prey. He moved toward her, s

ze. Refused to

ng shifted in his posture. His shoulders

ere else," he said. "But don'

caught. Not

ger. No. I

ore Ryker's rejection. The kind that made her claw

is it?" s

pped f

os

led string. Her heart thudded against her ribs-not wit

es studying her like she was a pu

ble,"

No explanatio

. she did

this

her whispered that she

in silence and storm-might jus

e had questions she co

r real name

," he said with

you hide

ed. "You just didn't

cruel. It was charged. The space between them had changed. S

somethi

To her rage. Her

, long after the fire had dimmed. His

Curious. Alm

me like I'm broke

t broken looks like," he r

eath s

t like an afterthoug

ted him. Should'

ar, but recognition again. The same thr

membered him bef

, the stor

g wolves. The roof creaked. The fire flicker

without thinking. It tingled-an itch beneath

't say a word. Just crouched and

t hers, the mark benea

Not heat.

d her pulse point. Her breath caught in her throat. Kade didn't flinch

el that?"

's not a bond. But

stirred, not just in recognit

e asked, bare

he said, letting go of her wrist. "Sometimes, it cho

curled her fingers around

t ready t

t

hat had made her feel alive

e-that was more dan