hina'

amiliar voice shattered t

eart sank-her golden hair streamed behind her, and her cheeks were flushed fr

t as she had ten years a

as if she were a dream he was terrified to wake from. The raw yearning in his eyes an

pleaded, her voice breaking. I saw m

b tore through the air,

lutching her tightly in his arms. My mother and brother joined them, folding into an

eep pretending that I still belonged with them, tha

se the distance between us, but all it did was give them someone new to blame

ng. He was nine now, but it was still dangerous-he was K

home, I immediately went to check on Danie

open, I found my nine-year-old son curled up, his knees dr

usly. "Why didn't Dad

-car-shaped bed. "Your dad's helping your uncle with some thin

bad dream?" I asked, runni

andpa Edward... something h

y that the man who taught him to track deer just last summer was gone? I stroked hi

per carried an eerie certa

feel the severing of a wolf bond. Yet he had. The sensit

ike me. He wouldn't bear the shame of being an Alph

nt of maple syrup and innocent sweat. No matter how much I regretted that

g in my life-the only heart t

eships, over his shoulders, he gazed up at me with

will always b

ourse, honey. Mommy's not going anywhere," I promised, pressing a kiss to his furrowed

looking at me. "But I don't

d you say that?" I aske

w things aren't good between you and Dad. Tonight was h

didn't give me the chance.

roblems between Kieran and me. We'd tried to act perfe

decided, haven't you?

now-honesty might make him feel safer. "

l have divorced parents. Their parents still love

so yourself, ri

gain. "Of course, sweethear

you to be happy,"

as already getting drowsy. I soothed

e study, downloaded a divorce agreement

ummaged through the fridge. Bottles clinked together-t

. He w

ght-comforting her, reconnecting. But since he

s nearly filling the kitchen doorway. Moonlight outlined the sha

ent of cedar and rain enveloped me, sharp and intoxicating

hing to eat?" I asked

s tightening beneath his stubble-stubble I'd never been allowed to to

bearing the weight of the world. I'd seen this perfo

refused to fa

your mind must be clear,"

sked, impati

ivorced," I