RIA'

utter open. I stirred lazily on

yes adjusted to the dim light f

hing snapped

h catching in my throat as

y woods before resting on the

gments of the previous night c

ed. "Oh, Goddess. What did I do?" I whispered, my voice shaking as I stared a

eally a

nothing monstrous about him now. His features

covering a part of the scar at the right side

that he was the monster everyone feared. Yet, I

I couldn't name but felt deep in my core. I needed to get away,

do was run and hide... Make sure he never find

, moving slowly, cautiously, praying that the so

ay, I turned and bolted, sprinting through the forest as fast as my legs would carry me. My only goal

the way his voice-thick, smoky, and dangerous-had sent shivers do

myself fall into his arms, that I had allowed the bond to take control. And now, the

ared," Xurie, my wolf, asked with

make sure he doesn't get to see us ever again," I encouraged my w

y between the North and the South, my lungs

o pick up my dress from

ng... I had to get back to the safety of my pack, even though the

owing what had happened? How could I fa

nto Kahel just at the border. He had come to make sure

se of the negligence of the guards on duty. T

ook over after his father died a few

s. "Where are you coming from so early?" He

self in the stream, hoping to wash off my mate's scent from my skin.

r chosen mates. Now that he had assumed the Beta position, he was ready to have

a run," I said,

t about home?" He asked me. His kind

estion, and he pul

a secret. Only a few tru

my guilt. I wondered why Kahel never

d to look him in his deep blue eyes

ou know you can talk to me," Kahe

s si

ht. I looked for you, but Rella told me you..." At

ence, "I just went to

ouldn't hesitate to take Kahel away from me the moment I

ou this sad. It hurts me." Kahel s

ned to break. I pushed him off of me and ran past him, covering my m

*

PARTHE

d shrouded in mist. Yet, even in the e

ady mixture of fear, confusion, and something fa

ven in sleep, I felt her soft, cautious movement. My sense

eartbeat quickening with each ca

ct, to seize her before she could flee. But I remained still, my l

ction. She had no idea what I was capable of-no idea that every breath she

the monster of the North-had its advantages. My sens

y sense of smell was so acute that the scent of her sweat, fear, and arousal still lingered on my tongue. I

n desperation as she sought to escape the inevitable-oh, how it

in my ears. She didn't know that her scent-so uniquely hers, so intoxicating-was a trail she

ed, her bare feet barely maki

five-foot-four. Petite and fra

to glide through the trees. But no matter how fast she ran, no matter how

the distance between us would somehow shield her from the consequences of what had happene

. My property. And I

t my face as I turned in

st where t