man stepped into the cell and grabbed my arm, pullin

ng in the dimly lit corridor, I could see him more clearly. My he

touch both urgent and gentle. I nodded quickly, feeling a wave of rel

new better. His curly brown hair and brown eyes, though familiar, looked different now-harder, more intense, like he'd been through something I couldn't quit

e low as he led me deeper into the underground

eplied, his voice barely more than a whispe

oth come to a halt. "What do you mean

that made my stomach twist. "We don't have time f

ridor. Nikolai opened the door to reveal a small, forgotten room, the walls crumbling

me to climb the bed. Confused, I obeyed, watching as he reached up an

Nikolai pulled me into a tight hug, his arms wrapping around me with a desperation I

ed, his voice shaking. "You need to get out now. Go to thi

arted, my voice trembling. "No wait, how did

the fear in his eyes. "I can't explain right now, Nyx. Just trust me

ng with me?" My voice wavered,

and I-" He cut himself off as the sound of heav

ic. "Go. Now. And don't come back," he whisp

say anything more, he slammed the tra

andle himself-he always did-but that didn't make this any easier. I pressed my hands to the cold ston

the trees casting long shadows around me. The backside of the Hunter mansion l

hastily across it, a place I had never been to before. B

n days since I spoke to him. He would probably be wor

iver down my spine. My instincts flared. I had to move, and f

uld have

n, felt at one with their wolf. But I had rejected that part of myself for so long that it had become a foreign, painfu

deep inside, but she didn't stir. She hadn't for years. It was

h the trees, closer this t

as my bones shifted and my muscles contorted. I bit down hard on my lip, trying to stifle the scream that

y fur was thick and white, the color of freshly fallen snow.

to l