every movement deliberate and predatory. Kael stood to the side, holding his injured side

Elias said, his voice a mockery of warmth.

fused to look away from the man who had taken so much from her. "I'm not

menacing. "You always were stubbor

rgency. He straightened, stepping closer despite the blood

crossing his face. "Ah, the wolf," he said. "You thin

, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim

how she ran from me? How she left behind a trail of destruction and d

st was a wound she had tried to bury, but Elias had

ing in front of Lena. "You don't

ng in his eyes. "You're protective. I'

him head-on, their collision a blur of claws and fists.

were precise; his strikes aimed to wound rather tha

never felt so powerless, so utterly useless. But then her eyes lande

d catch up. She dove for the blade,

nd the wolf's throat. "You thought you could chall

digging into Elias's arm,

ed high. He turned at the last second, his eyes wideni

Lena to the ground with a powerful backhand. The blade slipped from

an, but his words were

ss Elias's chest. Blood splattered the ground as Eli

d. He turned and fled into the shadows, disappear

oment, his chest heaving

rself up. Her voice was shaky, but h

ments were stiff. He crouched beside her, his e

hough her body ached fr

s head. "You were brave," he said

ling to the surface. "If I had sta

tened. "Maybe. But I

a momentarily speechless. Before she could respond,

ck emerged from the trees, their

"Maren asked, h

working with the hunters. He's

ghtened. "Did

t he's wounded. He'll think

f the group, his tone laced with skepticism

gaze on her and braced herself

ising. "She brought him here. She's a liabi

d Dren, his posture commanding. "Elias isn't just her problem.

t respond. Instead, he turned and sta

alone again. The fire from the hunters' camp had burne

t," Lena said softly, her

his expression unr

me. Risk every

're part of this now, Lena. Part of the pack, whet

y he offered. But her past loomed over her like a dark cloud, and she co

this," she admitted, her v

look at him. "You can," he said firmly. "You're stron

a long time, Lena fe

e knew the battle