came too

his back to me. The tension in his shoulders was visible even from

, the furs slipping from my

iting outside. He has something he

used. "Both of

his eyes-his eyes were stormy, dark with an emotion I

happened during my visit to the Meteor pack? Had there been another att

ched, and for just a moment, his eyes met mine. There was something there-an apology, maybe

ed to each of us. "Tha

crossed, his body radiating barely contro

professional. "After the Red Claw attack, I think we need to increas

tone was clipped

arely a heartbeat, but I caught it. "Th

w tightene

trees, watching us." Caleb's eyes flicked to me briefly. "It might have been nothing-a trick

ession sharpening. "You didn

my voice steady. "By the time I woke this morni

d n

f, suddenly cold despite the morning sun. "It felt li

eb. "Increase the patrols. Double the night watch on all borders, not

started to turn away, then paused. "Damon. Th

es narrowe

r night. I understand why. But I need you to know-nothing happened. Nothing will eve

ith meaning. I held my breath, watching the two

"I know, Caleb. I know." He paused. "You're my brother. My best friend. I trust you. It'

ack at Damon. "But Elara is strong. Smarter than either of us give her credi

. Caleb was defending me. Standing up

me since we'd woken, his eyes were fully on me, without the shadow of suspicion. "I'm sorry. I've bee

fer," I said softly

k my hands. "Then show me. Teach me. Help

ld be okay. But there was still a part of me-a small, guilty part-that was awar

pered. "We'll figu

e who might be watching. It wasn't a passionate kiss-it was soft,

th me to the war council this afternoon. You have insights about s

not trusti

and walked toward the meeting hut. I watched

His face was carefully blank, but his eyes-

defend me," I said

the truth. And because..." He trailed off, shaking h

was brief, barely a second, but it was enough. Enough to feel t

he mask slipped completely. I saw everything in his eyes-the

he distance between us. Then he was gone, striding toward the bor

cil met in t

rom the other warriors. Caleb was across the table, his expression

," Finn reported, pointing to a spot on the map. "Scouts estimate at

grimly. "They're not ready to

The Meteor pack owes us for helping their Luna.

d to me. "I established a connection with their healer, Lena. And thei

It's not a bad idea. But it's dangerous. The route

oice was steady. "I can lead

, maybe, or suspicion. But he nodded. "Do it

other details. I listened, absorbing everything, making mental notes. By the time t

ur hut. "You did well in there," he

ised, maybe. Not

utside our door, turning to fa

y breath

yes searched mine. "But I also know what it looks like when a m

stopped

ee it. And I'm telling you that I trust you both to do what's right. But if somethi

d hard. "I

t. Let myself forget, for just a moment, about blue eyes and w

ched me like I was precious, like I was the only woman in the world. And I responded in k

this was enough. That he was enough. That the flutte

hought it, I kn

ame to

Caleb and the others at the edge of the territory. He was

?" he

ea

. The forest was peaceful, beautiful, and I tried to lose myself in it.

t by midday. Caleb called a halt near a smal

n said cheerfully. "At this rate, we'l

as young, enthusiastic, completely unaware of the ten

ees, needing a moment alone. The stream burbled peacefully

n't wander

eps, felt his presence like a warmth at my

t the water. "I meant what I said yesterday. T

kno

r the pack. For him." His

he pain in his eyes nearly bro

ly, he reached out and brushed a strand of hair from my fac

get back,"

not trusti

d us both cold. Footsteps-running, urg

una! Com

ers, and what we found

his chest. The others were in fighting stances, weapons drawn,

Cl

er said, smiling cruelly. "The Alpha's p

, his body a shield. "You'

an be a

exploded i