AI

ongs, parents cheering, friends shouting a

ppiness

onsumed by the dark. That's what I've always done. Living in the Pack as charity since our parents

corner, lose their smiles, and walk arou

long look from Cael and any of them who'd lo

ght into my chest. My heart won't stop thrumming, each beat a

organ of all. I should rip it out and destroy

ration is over, and even the young wolves who al

hat's left staring at me is a si

off the dirt and wet yellow grass from the container and sigh at myself. I couldn't stand in line for the Moon Ritual

t is gone. All that's left are scraps. I don't have time t

some meat left. L

and there he is, Cael, standing way too close,

ng almost enough to drop the precious food.. Of all the moments for him t

Stupid

ne word from him, one step clos

to lie. I can't suddenly be imagining laughing in his arms as

orest... Probably one of the newly mated cou

us on my task of getting those last 3 noodles stuck to the bot

ne. For a second, I forget how to breathe. Then he finish

request. It

uming. Liam is curled on his small bed, snoring quietly. I

again. But you know how curiosity keeps nagg

d. What if he finally tells me why he forced me to lie? What if

rapped in thorns. I still remember their engagement feast. Liam got to eat a blueberry scone that day. I submitted m

lize my feet are already moving. It's

inutes won't k

like they'll calm me

My lungs betray me, exhaling the breat

a whisper in the dark forest. My mind blanks, and all I can do is stare. He actually came. It's just

k. This isn't how it was supposed to be. I wasn't supposed

eating me alive, and I swear h

motions behind that hard exterior. But now? It's written all over him, stamped in

en us. And I can't think of

m to look me in the face and te

ushing headache=, and try to take small breaths. His scent envelops

t pounding so hard it feels like it might

tree, no space left to retr

n front of me, crowding me. His fi

trying so fucking hard, to keep you out of my head. But you're everywhere. Your scent, your skin..

y eyes flutter shut on instinct. Goddess help me, I want to tell

mine, cutting me off, silencing every thought. He pins me against th

Cael is kissing me

hungrier. His kiss is fire, and my body answers with flames of its own, wild, reckl

n a heartbeat, his body leaves mine letting the cold

and

focus on reality and not the fact that Cael's hand is wrapped around my wrist. She's not alone. Beta and Gam

t caught her fiancé with me. Of all people. And Lysandra

eld. Maybe it's to protect me, maybe it's inst

ove a step closer. I have to give it to her, she's an Ice Q

gritted, eyes locked on me as though letting go of me might kill him. It

She smiles at him like he's her whole world. His wild eyes dart to me for a second, before she speaks again, "Remember to control your beast around her. You could even harm her

ith too many warring emotions to even know what the

ap, whipping, or maybe any form of hard punishment from her. Instead, she simply pluc

..." she says, her predator's