with an energy she couldn't quite understand. Despite the warmth of the fire crackling in th

ysander leaned against the far wall, silent and brooding, his silver gaze icy and distant. Kael, as always, was the

tone easy but his eyes sharp. "We've

tuation had already become. She pulled the blanket tighter around her, a

me?" she asked, her voi

's not about what we want. I

"I didn't even know you existed until a few hours ago

nce sending a shiver down her spine. "From the rogue that attacked you in

e yellow eyes, the snarling maw, the sheer size of

r me?" she demanded.

thing softer, more serious. "You're not nobody

r head, forcing herself to focus. "That doesn't make any sense. I've lived my whole life under th

rself. "It's not a coincidence," he said, his voice steady and sure. "Tha

pered, her voic

el took a deep breath. "There's something different about you, Eva. Som

ween the three of them. "Differen

y. "But it's not normal for a rogue to hunt a human like that. There'

," she said, her voice trembling. "This has to be some kind of mistake. You've got the

t a nobody. Whether you see it or not, there's someth

eyes, the sincerity in his voice. She loo

asked quietly, her voice

n't lessen. "Now, we protect you," he said simply. "You stay her

lity in his tone. "You're not giv

er eyes piercing. "You don't have

el for some kind of reassurance, but ev

there for you anymore. The packhouse is the

nd what if I don't want to stay? Wh

like it," he said, his voice low and steady. "But until we figu

mind raced, her thoughts a chaotic tangle of fear, anger, and confusion. She wan

er voice barely above a whisper. "I'll stay. But only un

a curt nod. "

the room easing slightly. "We

eyes made it hard to stay angry. She looked away, her

-

g days passe

eep within the forest. The triplets had taken shifts watching over her, t

d taken it upon himself to distract her from her worries, regaling her with stories of pack life and his brothers' antics. Lysander, o

lt toward each of them. It was as if some invisible thread connected

g through the tall windows casting a warm glow over the shelves of books. Sh

ike to

ainst the doorway, his arms cross

d cautiously. "It's

eyes scanning the shelves

"I don't know. Something with

ned. "A woman af

ll smile tugged at her lips de

ve-the-adventure kind of guy. Bu

t laugh at that. "Wh

a step closer. "You're starting to smile

looked away. "Don't read too

d, Dominic's voice called from down the h

ink. "Duty calls. Don't mis

n, but her smile lingere

moved in the corner of her vision. She froze

silver eyes watching her with an in

elf?" he asked,

ands clenching at her s

ou that this isn't a vacation," he said, his voice low and biting. "You're here

see it. "Believe me, I haven't forgotten,"

a moment before he turned and walked

w what she'd done to earn Lysander's distrust, but his cutting words

sity felt grounded, Kael's teasing had a charm she could fend off, but Lysander's cold detachment was harde

act herself. But the quiet didn't last long. Footsteps echoed in the hallwa

is face shadowed with the weight of responsibility, Eva felt a flick

along," Dominic remarked, his

warily. "If that'

her. His dark eyes studied her, and though his express

feel comfortable," Dominic sa

ing?" Eva asked

into the faintest smile

all so different. It's hard

ing. "Different, yes. But we balance each other out. Ka

ader," she fin

"Someone

heir first conversation. "Why do you care so much about protecting me? I do

nd steady. "You're important to this pack, even if you don't see it yet. There's something about you, somethin

eign and strange in this context. "Tha

ly. Instead, he turned and walked to the w

oice distant. "But there's more to you than you realize. A

door swung open. Kael strode in, his usual grin firmly in

" he teased, leaning cas

m a pointed loo

otted something near the perimeter. Co

ifting into focus. "Stay here," he told E

unease prickling at her

, his voice lighter but no less se

recise. Kael followed, but not before turning to Eva wit

e, leaving Eva alone i

-

erves fraying with every second that passed. Her thoughts raced, spiraling into worst-ca

nish the intrusive thoughts. But

as massive, its twisting corridors and grand rooms a labyrinth she had yet to fully explore. Her

t of the chandelier casting long shadows across the walls. Somewhe

er jump, and she whirled around,

oice cut through the

ilver eyes gleaming in the dim light. He looked as col

sit there," she

er her, assessing. "You're

"Wandering around your fanc

ght he might snap back. But instead, he stepp

e rogues aren't just mindless beasts. They're organized, and they're ruthless. I

te her. "You think I don't know that? I didn't ask for any

of something raw and unguarded passing through his eyes. "Non

vulnerability in his tone. But before she cou

erberating through the packhouse li

antly. "Stay here," he ordered, his

y gone, disappearing down the hallway

ime. Fear clawed at her chest, but so did a strange sense

going to stay h

o chaos, Eva braced herse