lett

der, his smile disappeared-and

the hilt of my sword into his ribs-hard. He growled, swung his sword low, but I leapt up, driving my elbow hard into his chin. He stumbled. He swung

ed boldly

he

ith adrenaline. My pack surrounded me, pride written across

ades clapped me on the back and ot

muttered with a crooke

brow. "Now we can finally use all the equipment. No more dr

ery wolf in this pack has equal rights to this field. Anyone who disrespects thi

was brief-then cheers er

fleeting second, what my father must have felt standi

thought broug

-if grief hadn't broken him after my mother died-he

rs were dwindling.

t let tha

to see Lu

cer-and convince him to dissolve this ridiculous

a future t

I said

, sensing the shift in m

round and saw a few of Alexander's alli

ded. "

t," I a

and restaurants, the sunlight warming our ba

he café, I pulled Coby

ant to be

Alexander's meeting

ked. "Wai

he can to stop me-just like he did at the celebration. He'll

only for a moment. "You wa

n him. Anything you see, you

excitement and rage, nearly shouting, "I've wait

oud it seemed to sh

locking eyes with min

I would even cut off my own head and l

passion, tears sti

d his hands and

ed you beside me in battle. I swear, this t

with conviction

ath, until

ten home when

hissed and ro

n, waiting for two ri

at

ge. "Showing off in front of the entire training ground

prevent a civil war. Or did you forge

Scarlett. You'

nue-that's what's gone too far. She's forgotten your duty. I'm the daughter o

tt!" he

me. "The pack's lost faith in you. Next time the rogues attack, your

en, he lowered his voic

fr

sking. He w

rmured. "That night. that bond, it stil

mn

g. I had felt

d me? Clung to t

felt? I wasn't going to be

ed, his voice rough like stone.

ry. "You don't g

echoed suddenly. "Then te

almost cras

ole time, listening, waiti

gripped the back of my neck,

through my veins like wildfire

've pull

I di

that I

im. Every touch. Eve

t before he could take it further, he pulled

ho you belong t

appe

a

de, but he didn't retalia

gh the mind-link. Something urgent wa

pping back. "T

s not," I hissed. "It'

every step dri

king when my ph

age fr

is pack is already clearin

d at th

ast message meant refusal-so

have time

I needed this meeting. I needed him to hear from me-not

people, reclaim my power, and end t

let anyon

en Ale