s expensive. It clung to her damp skin, the material so thin she might as well have been nak

robe and a pair of simple leather sandals. No underwear. No bra. Jus

et hair with efficient fingers. "Alpha Rowan is already

e clasped them together in her

f is calm enough to handle what's coming." Vera's f

l want to claim you completely. Make you his in eve

ous than it

es

Just

ack, studying Rachel with those unrea

terr

don't let it paralyze you." She he

ing until she talked herself out of this entirely. They climbed back

skin prickled under its light, and something inside her responded. Stirred. Her witch blood may

e circle around the central bonfire. The flames leaped twenty feet high, crackling and spitti

ed to her as s

hide under those expensive silk sheets. These people needed her. That little girl

brave her whole life. This was just on

d through, creating a path to

ge, and Rachel's breath c

ered his chest and arms, swirling patterns that seemed to move in the firelight. His dark hair was loose, falling

g tight. Singing with recognition and want a

ce sounded like a prayer. He

e, she could see the tension in his jaw. The way his hands trembled slightly before h

were meeting for coffee instead of a

witched. "H

n front of your entire pack. This is no

was rough. Strained. "Say the word and I s

her way. You sa

ie a thousand times

hed his face, feeling the scratch of stubble against her palm. Hi

ared of saying no. I'm here because those kids deserve to grow up with their parents. Because that woma

ou're really hot and I've thought about you n

n he opened his eyes again, some of the terr

cause that's what I do when I'm nervou

fe that made Rachel's stomach drop. The blade gleamed in the f

e," he sa

ar and strong. "We gather under the full moon to perform the ancient

threatens to destroy e

n Rachel's body and made something wild wake up in her che

Do you consent to this ritual? To sharing your power with this pack

was dry. "

we b

he drew the blade across his palm. Blood welled brigh

ndle was warm from his grip. She press

Her blood mixed with his blood as

nd exp

ut Rowan caught her. Held her steady as magic poured between them. Gold light

wolf prowling just under the surface, desperate to claim and protect and

resolve. The stubborn strength that had

the mate bond was already wrapping around

red against her ear. "Just

k into her skin, her bones, lighting up every nerve ending. It didn't hurt yet. It

rs someone had laid out near the fire. The pack beg

her. His weight settled carefully, not crushing, just comfortab

know when th

'll

d his mou

pened for him and felt his control slip. The kiss deepened, became demanding. Consuming. His t

d flare

shoulders, his back, feeling muscles shift under scarred skin. The silk robe wa

Cool air hit her heated skin for a second before his body covered hers ag

somewhere beyond the firel

is head, his e

nce to st

re stop," Rac

. Then he closed his eyes and

d through Ra

was being ripped apart and rebuilt. The power that had been building between them

scre

em both. His face was a mask of concentration and agony. This was hurting him

didn'

ndred wolves suddenly connected to her. Felt their gratitude. Thei

gritted out. "

. The same instinct that had kept her alive for twenty-one years. She reached

in a wave of gold and c

rse sh

athe freely for the first time in a long time. Felt the

st her, his body shaking

upted in ho

the edges. The power drain had taken too much. She'd given

nded far away. "Rachel, sta