na's

s quieter th

n like a secret it wasn't ready to share. The pack grounds fel

d

the heat of his body, but not touching. Not yet. His steps w

asn

with every step until I coul

ly, my voice softer t

d over. "

ped wa

en turned to

k sees me as..." The words tasted bitter. "As nothing? A human. A mistake. The girl born

meet his eyes. "A g

me. Then, as if it were the most o

you're

still. My h

ok my head sharply.

d calm, but his eyes s

t before I could stop it.

e, something shifted in his

say that?" he

hough it hurt. "Becaus

tween us. Then, unex

e too. It wasn't humor. It was exhaustion. It was ev

ing at something tha

ully, like I might shatter. My heart

gers brushed mine,

Warmth followed, flooding my chest and curling deep inside me like

sn't

n't co

my body already knew him.

his grasp, but I didn't

t echoed, soft and terrify

isbelief, fear, and something dangerously cl

. I gently pull

ly, avoiding his eyes. "My fr

alk you

"No, it's fine. M

alking, heart still racing, skin still tingling where

didn't

len

ice ha

iet path. He was watching me like I was alr

omorrow's mat

aught. I co

e, but my mind was anywhere but calm. I could still

re my

ed, softer now

small house, a faint smile

len

lin

, her face tight with worry and relief.

you and you were gone. I almost lost my mind-I thought the night pat

t in a frantic rush.

could do

orried about me,

snapped, but there was no r

hed qu

lanket. My body relaxed, but my mind kept drifting back to him. To the way he looked at

sigh es

said, cutting th

front of me with her arm

ave you been smiling like an

failing to h

tepping closer. "You're

"Okay, okay. Gue

ible at g

erson who knocked earl

le

aid slowly. "

row. "The on

idened. "A

es

re jo

m n

, stunned. "What

ing my cheeks again. "He

froze. "

gave me away. "He said I h

. "So because Alpha Kael showed up

did

c hand over her heart. "Bet

ughing. "You'r

aughing?" She tried to look serious

y. "You know you're

I'll forgive you. But

rse," I

erything felt wa

k sounded a

oth

followed-fir

d a look. The smile sl

make sure you got home

ad. "No... it

k came. Slow

se settled dee

Isadora whispere