coming from the embers in the fireplace. For a moment, she thought she'd dreamed it all the wolves, the bat

est, his golden eyes pi

rora asked softly, her v

ing to her. "The forest never truly s

eemed too heavy for one man to carry. Aurora stood and wr

is for a long time, h

ssion unreadable. "Long

bridge the gap between them. "Wha

rogues won't give up so ea

ey want me

cause you're human. And be

what? They want to kill me to k

darkly. "They feed on fear. On c

he window, her eyes scanning the tree line. The forest seemed calm,

suddenly. "You've given so much to protect i

rest is my home. My pack. My pu

"But you're more than this," she said softly. "You're not just a prot

locking onto hers. "I'm what, Aurora?

h knowing," she said

eight he carried seemed to lift. "You're bold," he s

ed. "I've bee

It wasn't like the mournful calls she'd heard

s body tense. "They

rt raced. "W

, his expression re

e dark. Aurora stood at the cabin's threshold, clutching the flare gun tightly. Silas had shifte

rembling but steady enough to aim. Each shot lit up the

e. She stumbled back, her heart pounding, but before it could strike, Sila

d, his voice rough and g

Aurora shouted back,

a brief moment before he turned t

fingers raw from gripping the flare gun. But eventually, the

shadows, Silas shifted back to his human

ight with worry. "Are you okay

id, though his exh

his alone," Aurora said, he

ession softening. "I'm not al

brushing against his arm. "You don't have to carry thi

than you know," he said, h

e danger, the chaos-it all disappeared, leaving

s arms were around her, pulling her close. His warmth enveloped he

t," he murmured

she replied, re

sound rumbling through his

," Aurora said wi

ees, Aurora knew her life would never be the sa

she wasn't afraid of wha