pte

ENA

mean to

erything I loved, I would have run. I would have covered my ears. I would have sh

I st

glad I did, because hearing their plans

. Artemis flickered alert inside me. I could hear my parents' steady heartbeats even through t

My heart pounded so loudly I was sure they would hear it. Every b

lipped from my

my mom said calmly, almost amused.

ght painfully

ser to the wall, my

father replied flatly. "I

our mate, threatened, I felt a flare of possessiveness so strong it made my chest tighte

orld

a

y k

to stay upright. Every instinct screamed at me to burst into the roo

pounding in time with Artemis' desperate cries. I

smooth and thoughtful. "I suspected as much.

anning to bring him to us tomo

rov

d straight thr

, resistance but eventually, understanding and accepting him. I had i

d ho

lish I

ue who can't even shift. Fate tr

ever learns that our daughter's mate is a nobody, our pack will be ruined

was a

e again, her tone s

him openly," sh

skipped v

mean?" my f

smoothly. "Let Serena believe we've so

awled down

?" my fat

id calmly, "we arr

y mouth as nausea

ed. "Accuse him of attempting to force himself on o

is snapped violently, raking claws against the inside of my m

my veins carried wildfire instead of blood. My wolf wanted t

d slowly, understanding dawning in his v

ly. Cleanly. We look righteous. Serena will be hear

ion bl

planning t

yd

m

ing cruelty. U

my knees threate

de me, her voice raw

im, Serena. Th

ery breath burned. My hands shook uncon

t let tha

oul

nly one way

y o

make hi

make hi

uelly, that he would never stay. Never l

it destr

if it des

to the empty hallway, my vo

why I rej

st my lips. Why I watched the light fade from his gaze. Why I felt the bon

nt I chose his li

on't re

ver

e keeping him here woul

ears as best as I could. Artemis tre

, she said quietly.

red, my voice h

y from everything I loved a

****************

DEN

a

s all t

and s

pounding against the earth, my chest bur

't und

e was warm. Ge

ooked at me lik

meant n

urious how ma

d like a blade, slicing de

tree trunk as my breathing turned

li

d to b

at me that way. Wouldn't say those thi

ng. Maybe I don't

was just

lieved fate ca

ly, the sound br

ning. I gasped, dropping to one knee a

d, his voice no longer we

growled. And in doing

lutching my chest as fir

tore and reformed. Power surged through me

the earth bene

ir sh

orld

ng and fierce, and for the first time in y

ple

r

head back a

ry predator and prey around me. Zion's senses flared, brushing against Serena's presence m

lver-black fur glowing beneath the moonli

s flood

ayal. The seal force

slammed

sn't

neve

Lycan

e reje

and heartbreak collidi

ion growled. She c

hardening, something dark and re

quietly. "She

still humming through my

ght she had

was

to the night. "Stronger than any

ned with co

pered, "they'll regret ever

ently as I disappear

ed mate

ng in th