the sounds of warriors tending to their fallen comrades. The Silverclaw Pack had

ieran, and that decision nagged at her. She didn't understand why. Talon was ruthless, a

decision, something more than strategy. But that wasn't her biggest

eemed to assess her with an unnerving intensity, as if he were reading her every thought. Sh

w, measured. "I haven't seen

prise. "I'm no warrior, Rafe

seem to have a lot of different skills. It's curious, don't yo

ld feel her pulse quickening. Was he testing her? D

Rafe," she replied, keeping her

fore he could say more, Talo

. Wit

his bare chest, though most of his wounds had already begun to heal. His gaze flicked

. "We'll need reinforcements before Silvercla

ra let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. For now, she

-

ment A

for the first time in what felt like days. She sat by the edge of t

een her and Talon to grow, she felt herself slipping further from her original goal.

e awakened in her. Her father's death, her family's disgrace-they were all because

e bond between her and Talon. It was stronger now, almost tangible. No matter how much s

she hated hersel

her. She turned, and her heart leapt into her throat when she s

voice carrying a note of some

trying to compose

as he studied her. For a moment, neither of them

aid finally, his voice low. "

ed hard. "I d

orrected, stepping closer

ngering scent of battle on his skin. The bond between them thrummed in the air, and she could

e whispered, her v

a shock of electricity through her. She had been so focused on hating him, on her mis

on said quietly, his v

ted to deny it, to push him away, but her body betrayed her. She s

whispered, her

iss was like fire, igniting something inside her that she hadn't known was there. It

at his chest as he pulled her closer. But then, reality crashed back in, a

ng her head. "This can'

omething deeper. "You can't keep denying it, Elara. The b

r chest heaving. "I can't.

hat are you so afraid of? The b

turned away, her voice barely above a

-

an Takes

't keep doing this. She couldn't keep letting the bond pull her c

assigned to her in the pack's territory. She needed to think, to clear h

de

y unnoticed, and now, he stood before h

is voice cold. "We strike now, wh

she wasn't ready. The plan was to infiltrate the Bloodmoon Pack, to wait for the perf

she whispered, h

ou forgotten what they did to your family? To y

She hadn't forgotten. She could never forget. But the bond between he

aid, her voice breaking. "But

on't tell me you've gone soft because of the bond. That'

at. But doubt gnawed at her. Was Talon manipulating her, or was

ngerous. "You need to remember why you're

her heart torn in two. S

ed, her voice filled with

on satisfied. "Good. Tomor

heart heavy with the weight of what was to come. Tomorrow, everything woul

able to kill Talon w