a's

antra in my head. The mate bond was supposed to be sacred, a gift from the Goddess, not a terrifying verdict delivered

ate. One of the rogues, bolder or stupider than the others, had circled back. It bur

y was locked in a prison of fear. I

eyes couldn't track it. I heard a sickening crack, the sound of bone

s crumpled body. He hadn't even turned to face i

lden eyes. He was disappointed in my weakness, in my inabilit

rifying sound of bones snapping and grinding filled the silence as his form elongated, twisting under

shi

f, as black as a starless midnight, its sheer size was staggering. It was as large as a small car, muscle and sinew coile

on hit me with the for

a king, a sound of absolute dominion that shook the very trees around us. He then launched himself int

tore them apart with brutal efficiency, his claws and

eek. The coppery tang of it fille

wn ground. Blood dripped from his jaw. He lowered his enormous head until his face was in

into my heart. But beneath it, a strange and unwelcome

of it made m

The tiny barbs on its surface scraped against my cheek, sending a jolt through

uch a wolf gi

inside me, Lyra whimpered, a sound o

eaction. A low, rumbling sound, al

ew thick and heavy as an invisible for

ne

the wolf within, demanding obedience. My body began to tremble violently as my human will warred with

wn blood. My nails dug into my palms, cr

He intensified the pressure of his command. My knees buckled, and a cry of pa

as my body was about to betray my m

ttered like a