nd beyond the treetops. The cloak from the Gathering was still wrapped around her shoulder
ts to deci
she barely knew but felt drawn to-a
silver pendant
murmured to her reflection in the
rtled her. She didn't a
tepped
p as if he'd just washed the scent of the forest
ou'd be awak
ne straightening.
" She narrowed her eyes.
yes. "I prefer confident. An
arms. "Why are y
ere promised to each other, Selene. You were pledged to the V
e that promis
o, if she'd lived long enough." "You don
e to make things right between us. You're confus
real," she
-alliances-they endure," he said. "An
y determination. A man who didn't love her but believed he
was a wolf,"
ad. He's gotten inside it. If you give in to him now
choice before anything
was made for you before you were old en
aim, and you accept, Luca can't touch you. He won't dare
ooked up
u'll have made your decision." He turned and left her sta
he garden-sitting beneath the same twisted
n said, easing onto
ryone," Selene said. "My aunt. My mothe
other told me when she l
shook h
e a free woman than live
wed hard. "Bu
Rowan said. "But she
her. "Did she eve
way. "She regretted that yo
rying with it the scent of pine and somet
r cloak and handed Se
she died. I was told to give it
trembled as s
rest S
this, the moon h
one wild. You may feel torn between the
r world would never understand that kind of lo
hen it's real, isn't about claiming or ow
choose-know that
wa
M
down Selene's cheeks as
lder. "You are not bound by the past. Not
osing Luca destr
at evening, Selene wandered the edge of the forest, lost in thought. Th
ound-and th
u
eyes glowing silve
t come t
re you here
lk wit
itated, th
silence at firs
e said quietly. "But you're not the easy choice, either." He looked at her. "Easy paths never l
One the moon started writi
er glowed under the moonlight, and
er letter,
beside her. "Y
d love is about choo
he said, voice raw. "I didn't come to claim you. I came
s heart
l dream of m
no
le. And you were mine."She met his eyes. "Then maybe we're both dreaming
n he leaned in, sh
-slow, electri
n't fi
nlight and