waning sunlight. The pendant around her neck felt heavier with each step, its cool metal brushing against her skin lik

very crunch of leaves beneath her boots, she felt the weight of unseen eyes. Her insti

refill her water pouch, crouching low as the sound of trickling water filled the silence. The cold liquid was a wel

nses straining. The forest was too quiet now-no rustling leaves, no distan

she demanded, h

le

as she turned in a slow circle, her eyes scanni

broke the stillness,

ttle thing," a male voice dr

n, with dark hair that curled at the edges. His eyes gl

d, her voice steady despite

eth. "Smart girl. He'll be pleased

r stance shifting. "You won

, his grin widening. "O

e dodged to the side, her dagger slashing out and catching his arm. He hissed,

"No wonder the Alpha K

through her. She struck again, her movements prec

e omega," he sneer

and another hit, the blade biting into his side, but the effort cost her

oice laced with menace.

pounding. She refused to go down without a

o creep in, a powerful

he opportunity to wrench herself free. She stumbled

mi

er eyes glowing with fury. His wolf was close to

tered. "Alpha King," he said

e," Dominic growled,

mbling under Dominic's oppressive pre

i," Dominic said, his tone ice-cold. "If

slicing through the air. The fight was over in seconds, the man collapsing to the ground

ted how relief mingled with her anger, how the sig

, his gaze raking over h

lp," she snapped, brus

tened. "You were a

it," she said, h

r to meet his gaze. "You don't

zing. "Yes, I do. Because I can't tru

g his face. "You don't have to trust me. But if yo

aking a step back. "I'd

e," Dominic sai

being your prisone

each other, the air between

said finally, his tone le

nowledge the way her chest ached at his words

ees, Dominic watched her go, h

muttered, a hint of a

his sight-not when the danger