Forest,
i's
one. Others are burned into yo
______
self, leaves shivering like parchment pages ripped by misty fing
ght itself clung thickly with pine, wet moss, and something more-something just
Sentinel of the Drowmere Pack, I had learned to fade in the trees, to read the language o
iet. An unfamiliar
the air. Not animal. Not human. Smoke or memory. It wrappe
e sigil of the Blood Vow. It glowed softly, as it alwa
pri
make me his mate. A union of politics. An ancient agreement. A fat
stirring began. A restlessn
apped to
, cloak coming behind like ash. I slid across the river with well-oil
saw hi
or. His clothing tattered, he clung to
ma
the q
rs away before they come. And yet, here he was-g
aid, voice cold, cutting thro
ot because he was scared, b
His voice was gravelly, like some
g my golden eyes blaze ju
Elipha
orld
in old legend, in songs
atching the stumble in his ga
ust... wea
ear
nly, eyes on trees, moo
e you don
e. "I didn't intend this. I followed... something.
"Dreams led you int
was a kid. This fore
fro
M
he said quietly. "
in years, I didn'
rm-gray and almost silver-were too flawless. Not wolf, not hu
aid, looking at the rip
sort of animal.
My gut
ed to
t? W
And if Kael gets his ha
he sai
, digging my fing
t sound t
m n
y stride definite, his reluctant. I didn't sh
Even as a kid, I used to have dreams about wolves and moons
was it
hel, pulled out a creased dr
at burned unde
n't be,"
about it sin
nless. The moonlight thic
ing-she'd thrown
ming with
wh
have to hide. If t
'll k
riously. "They
mouthed an elder magic word. Forest shimmered with lig
ed bewi
a how this is,
matte
n together. Behind us, fores
, war dru
lated a d
ocess... gene
_____