Vanc

said, his voice gentle. "From this day

Kaelan's again. That calming scent of the forest, his scent, se

They claimed it was to help, but I knew they were acting as gua

all wooden chest. My belongings consisted of a few threadbare dresses and the only thing my mother

n disgust as she eyed my meager bundle. "Goo

oden chest to my chest. It was

to his son. "You played your part well, but d

was too quiet

ll bag of clothes from my hand without a word, leaving me to hold only my trea

uck parked at the curb. It was covered in mud and scrat

s, is that how the Blackwoods travel? I t

lse, but I felt the need to defend him. "A vehicl

expression unreadable. "My Alpha allows me to

epit truck while reinforcing the image of a low-ranking w

, the inside was immaculately clean, a

with a shudder. Before he pulled away from the cu

rs' agreement," he began, his voice low. "I prop

mplete, a fragile thing that could be broken without the soul

r. To mark you before you have truly chosen this, truly chosen

iven me in years. Lyra, my wolf, whined in disappointment, craving the finality of the bond, the complete connection to her

strong it almost brought tears to my ey

as if searching for something in my

e side mirror, I watched Faye and Clara's triumph

y wooden chest, a strange mix of relief and terror swirling inside me. I was free, but

t his phone, glanced at the screen, and slipped it

s that for our union to be accepted

skipped

ng into a streak of green and brown. My life was now irrevocab