en'

eath the crescent birthmark on Elara's chest, a second symb

red in the moonlight. The Alpha's M

d, backing away.

ound herself, shivering despite the

happenin

I lied. Becaus

rk was

n Alpha, and only once the bond was fully claimed. It

even close. Unless... I turned away, jaw clen

e old blood. Something

one Priest want

e. Her voice was quiet, tight. "You k

dn't t

I know what he is. Wh

n filtered through the branches like cold fir

gasped

born under a blood moon. He spoke in riddles

ast Alpha, trust

order. A cleansing. Said the Moon had spo

d to poison our entire bloodline, m

ed." Elara's hand flew

ster," I said. "I watched

le

" "Because you already have too many scars that are

around him like a heavy blanket. Every now and then, he

murmured. "Do you think is true

as. The Moon's fire didn'

half. Just like the cur

something olde

said, stopping. I turned to face her. Her

s," she whispered. "I don't want to

t." "You don't know that." "I do."S

hy

for a long, close enough to feel the bond

ed for

r fingers touched, a howl shattere

ing her behind me.From

er

wo

n t

were not just rogues.

ng ago, as a failed experiment to mimic the power of Alpha bl

I'm not leaving

them." Sh

, tearing through skin, and launched at

napping. I felt one tear into my

held t

nd me, I heard

he Bloodshadows had broken off from the pac

oar

each her, light expl

sting the creature off her. It hit a tree

rogues froze.

fl

n the moonlight. Her eyes shone silver-whit

then, A voice echoed through the clearing.

ed. The bond is claimed. The

ground underneath them cracked. Fro

i

athed, barely

ct and protection. Behind him, three warriors from his pack s

shoulders tense. "Thi

he's mine to protect. You s

to be owned," I snap

e stared at the glowing runes

d you do

ust a healer," K

h rising magic, the kind

e, Elara," Ashen said, softer

n't want to

. But his men ra

front of me,

hispered, "The bond has be

light and threw us into chaos. A for

olding a blade Kalen recognized.The