, heavier than usual, like it was pressing down on Selene's skin. She stood still, her breath coming out

hile the memory of what she'd just seen pressed deep inside her chest. Kieran - her father - aliv

ld fade. But it didn't. He was real. An

, soft and trembling.

words for a long time. His eyes showed pain and regret, but benea

tly. "I had to disappear. It wa

e? You left me alone. You let

ilence between them wa

yes stayed locked on Kieran, burning with warning and suspicion.

ack at Selene. "There's more you

yra slipped silently from the shadows. Her movements were

ra's calm voice held weight as she spoke. "It's not just abo

ath caught.

imself. "Your blood... it's different.

hitting her hard. "I'm just me.

han that. Much more. There is power

m and protective. "Sounds

voice was low and steady. "They're

allowed h

enemies. They want to start

noise snapped through the night air.

one t

edge of the clearing

ne behind him. "Ge

hadows. Dorian caught it with a grunt, wrestling t

ward, eyes glowing fa

iss, eyes steeling. Lyra was at his

Dorian's hand, fingers tight and shaking. "I'm not

lashed and clashed. Growls were heard all over. The

badly where the attacker had grazed her. Pain

rendered was sharp and strong, fil

through the trees. The eart

e was

wolf. Its fur was black as the ni

no ordi

eep and knowing. Its voice rumbled thr

first alpha. Your choice w

d at Dorian, then at Kieran. Her

liberate. "You must choose. Embrace

ture vanished into the night, mel

fled too, in

ing was s

o the burning pain in her side. Dorian crouch

rt," he sa

id, but the ache w

ce firm. "This is real. You are

flickered with something new - fe

r feet. The weight of the ch

o Kieran to Lyra. Her br

ew voice brok

len

pun a

onlight. Tall, slender, with

mo

ne had thought

iv

ave. Questions exploded in her mind. How

ady. "You don't know ever

. "Where have you been?

re are things you need to understand

emed to hold

Selene's. "What is going

him. "You don't know who she

d tilt, everything s

said. "But I had to protect you. Fro

aced. What secr

hed. "It's time th

med to close in. The nig

e forward approaching us - tal

sly, her heart pounding heavily

blood of the first alpha runs through you.

t held it

her's. "Tell me everythin

"I will. But first, you mu

ce burne

an, Kieran, Lyra, her mother - each holding

was far

ight was only