'S

and the sharp sense of fear. But of all things

er

ld, fierce, and unstoppable she had been effortlessly. She was now standing a few feet away, her chest heaving and puffing

a puzzle being presented to me-delicate and deadly

ring in the area, but my thoughts were fixed to her. I had never seen anyone-man or woman. I had seen no one fight with such imm

ne so small crea

a casual tone, though my pul

er pants, leaving crimson

dark and low just like how I wanted it t

iously to meet mine. "Oh, then I'm bare

ep toward her, the crunching of leaves and breaking of small branches beneath my boots

g as she lifted her chin to meet my ey

"Something more than you're letting on. Normal were

unaffected. But the slight quiver in her fingers betrayed her c

er like some cheap commodity was lying and groaning in the dirt, alive but broken. The other men weren't so

y how she was. "This power you've got," I

s flashe

a lie.

closing the gap bet

d, but I saw the flicker of doubt in her eyes. Exactly what

w, my tone shifting from teasing to something m

er eyes narrowing in suspi

s," I said simply. "And I

ut it was a bitter one.

ho looks like she should break under the weight of

for the first time, I saw the uncertai

much softer voice now

should have. Something big. Something dangerous. You're not just running from t

g, and I could feel her

id, if she had been thinking in that di

She was weighing her options, and I knew she was considering the danger I might

" she asked finally, her

ying to decide how much of the truth I

saw the spark of anger flare. "

"You're more than that

istrust clouding her fac

lain it yet. But there's something powe

I thought she might walk away, leaving me standing there. B

" she said slowly,

h that I could feel the warmth radiating off her. "You'll be safe," I

etermine if I was lying. Finally, she let out a soft

nned.

ng at her lips. I made sure to give out a brighter smile to

e." I said, and she bit lips that looked pale pink under the m

thing else. All I knew was that whatever was coming out from his

I spared him. After all, everyone deserves a second

ime since we were together, my inner wolf finally moved around in excitement. T

er to my pack. I wanted to know who she was, a

ritory. I finally broke the silence between us

elena," I said. "I'm the

hock, fear, and something else-somethi

rom her, letting her

, my tone laced with a hint of a chall