se sent a fresh wave of pain up my shoulder, but I bit my lip and stayed quiet. I didn't w

k stone. Tall towers reached for the moon. High walls stood covered in climbing vines tha

us pulled stronger now that we were closer to his territory. It felt like a warm thread wrapped around my heart, tugging whenever

heir alpha home. Men and women came out to meet us, carrying torches. They s

d forward. "Welcome back, Alpha. We

He swung down from his horse and came to my side. Before I could protest, he lifted me off my horse like I weighed n

ckly, pulling away even

he let go. "Your arm is ble

d herbs. Alexander led me to a big room with a heavy wooden door. A fire was already crackling in th

He brought over clean cloths and a bowl of water

ands were surprisingly gentle as he rolled up my sleeve. Whe

ly. "These shadow creatures carry poison. Your m

r and more like a man carrying too much weight. There were small scars on

tly. "There must be o

n seal the rifts. And the bond... it chose you. I felt it the moment I saw you in that hall." His voice dropped lo

e completely. Instead, there was something almost honest in his t

"You should sleep. Tomorrow will be lo

to know everything. The rifts, the shadows, y

don't survive here." He walked to the door but stopped before leaving. "My beta, Edward Sinclair wait, no, your uncle shares the n

reath and sat on the edge of the bed. Safe? The whisper from the

ster than normal, thanks to the moonlight pouring through the window. I walked over and looked outside. The f

d braided brown hair stood there. "I'm Victoria Lane," she said quietly. "The alpha

ing down a tray of bread, cheese, and warm soup. She seem

said. "Have you

as attacked by shadows." She glanced at my bandaged arm. "Y

were, how the pack trained, and how Alexander had lost his parents to the same darkness

n't come easy. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Alexander's face or the

stood in a ruined temple. Moonlight poured over broken stones. Alexander was there, reaching for me, but shadows wrapped

" a voice

stumbled out of bed and opened it. Charles Beaumont

at hall. There's been an attack on one of our border patrols. Wi

corridors. My bare feet felt freezing on the floor. When

ide. He looked furious. Several of his warriors surrounded a captur

he bond pulled tight. "You shouldn't see t

er anyway. "W

Grant. Hawthorne sends a warning. The moon will run red on yo

ed the man by the throat. "

exander's arm. His skin was hot under my f

in fear as the light forced the truth out of him. "Hawthorne... he made a deal with the Void.

ed and slumped fo

something warmer. His hand covered mine

loser whether we wanted it or not. But the warning about th

r. "We need to talk. Re

look like the scary alpha everyone feared. He

owl echoed outside, longer and full of w

ing was onl