Y

e stranger and take a small

e girl stiffens. Her expression changes

sharply, her to

er eyes full of confusion and pain. There's something in the way he touches her-gentle, protective, t

inda," Dex says quietly. "Sh

. The hurt fades,

, the doctor, Brad, I think

d says in a thoughtful, serious voice. "He must have given he

his tousled hair. "Maybe. She did

ce sharper than I intend.

exchange quiet looks, as i

voice trembling. "I don't unde

hings went wrong," he admits. "We were late. I barely

there?" Linda's voi

htens before he shakes his head slowly. "No.

rad let out shak

"I don't understand any of this," I say. "Who are they

s sympathetic, Linda looks heartbroken, and Dex... Dex looks unreadable, but there's somethin

escent Pack." He pauses, grimacing a little. "You might not remember me, Lydia. We think someone used a kind of poison o

ur sister," she blurts out, her voice cracking. She grabs my hand tightly

ing-anything, that sparks a memory. But t

whisper, shakin

s quiet sobs escape her. I feel a sharp ache in my chest wa

oment, I feel like an outsider watching something deeply personal.

does he look

finally says, his voice low but certain. "Right now,

eps away, wrapping he

ight. Rest first.

his head.

e. Without warning, he pushes the blanket a

ms. "She's safe he

"But I'm not leaving her again. The last time I did, Baron

ard. She looks away,

carrying me as if I weigh noth

u taking me?"

he answers wit

chest. He glances down at me,

ys quietly. "I'm not

how know what I was thinking?

r. "Why are you doing all this

lent. His gaze meets mine-deep, unreada

do," he sa

know who you are, where I am

Dex Wright," he begins slowly. "I'm the leader of the

from a story, impossible and wild. But then I remember the nigh

g my head. "What does that have to do w

s soften, but there's sadness the

face. "You might not understand it now, or even remember it. But you're my mate.

y heart pounds so loudly I c

ime. For al

, somehow, it feels like the