n't s

till tingled where she'd bitten me, not hard enough to break skin, but hard enough to brand. My wolf wouldn't

was already dressed. Black leggings, oversized hoodie stolen from the lost-and-found years ag

nly witness to a nightmare wea

k was i

tank of grief and rage and too much silver being cleaned from blades. Three dead. Hearts taken. No scen

d the Alpha's lodge. Someone had to report what I'd see

la

ther. His eyes were wild, bloodshot, the grief so raw

bruise. "You were first on scene.

it. The words stuck behind m

eating his

r eyes t

d me and

. The lie tasted like ash. "There w

until bones ground to

ned. Too many eyes on me. Too many wolves s

Caelan's voice cut throug

Silver streaked his black hair, but his eyes were the same viole

t I stumbled. The Alpha'

. One word, and my feet move

has glared down from the walls. Caelan didn't sit behind the ma

turned

k, om

d. My thro

I

ed across m

straight through hoodie and skin. I screamed, dropping to my knees

d, ripping my hoodie down my sh

like molten sil

on cradling a

The moon was broken, cracked down the middle, a

an's voice shook. Ac

. The pain was receding, but the mark stayed, raised

ended him. Then his gaze snapped to my thr

eth marks surrounding a single word written in a language I di

pale benea

ispered. "N

ntil his shoulde

lp

stared at the mark like

pped in a robe the color of fresh snow. Her beauty was legendar

e saw me on my knees, hoodie half

ttered glass i

cuffs that burned like acid. The entire pack watched as I was thrown in

the

s that followed

-Cur

d-bo

's daught

a

the cold stone floor, cheek pressed to the groun

had kis

had mar

had v

nto a dull throb, but the smaller mark over my heart kept pulsi

corridor. I expected guards. Or Row

door opened and

grey sweater, hair braided neatly down one shoulder. No blood.

locked be

you-" I

ce with gentle fingers, and kissed my

ispered. "I never w

ent mark. Where she touched

do to me?" My

Her smile was sad.

ll silver dagger. Before I could react, she slic

aid, pressing

way. "Are

leeding into violet. "The cuffs are killing you. My blo

nted to spit in her fa

re licking up my arms, and her blo

dr

relief was instant, silver

heels, watching me with

r than I though

alking,

the door, the

n the Goddess. Power in exchange for a vessel. Every generation, the curse ch

d the smaller ma

twenty y

mach d

rts," I

hatever's closest." Her hand pressed harder against my chest. "It wanted you, Elara. Has wanted y

"You're saying some ancient cur

ks if it marks you, binds you, you'

iled cold

hy you ki

she said. "I thoug

bled through the stone, not from any

went

ows I'

blurred. The dagger fl

e new moon. It will force me to hunt again. Three more hea

eg

e

e continued. "But you-your blood s

chains rattling. "You don't

ing to s

eart!" I screamed.

ed her eye

emperature plummeted. Frost

Black bled fully into her eyes

e her said, voice like grind

lu

snapping taut. The dagger slic

e, fig

d, her own this time, trickled from her nose. "But it'

aught my forearm, four sh

smiled wit

for me,

oor explod

lanked by six warriors, all

oice breaking. "Step

face laughed. "Hello, Fathe

d on the mark blazi

the last thi

ped to

ed his

onger. My heart will quiet i

ked like a puppet

, fighting throu

rse was do

her arms. Her mouth o

closed

hink so. I

around Selene's waist and slamming us both to the ground. My blood, st

ft. No

e I was drowning

rse sc

ke dolls. The mark over my heart ignited, white-hot, and I fel

se roared ins

lene's real voice, b

ar

s receded fr

me, violet again,

ou do?" she

on my collarbone had changed. N

si

bl

warriors. The council. Chains.

ouched m

id. "Please.

la

s filled w

swallowed me was Selene mouthing two wo

d N

d around my throat, an