at had been ripped apart and let to bleed with each step. The deep aching inside of me persis

hat bound my heart and soul together seemed to have been torn out, leaving behind open, raw scars. E

inued to move.

limbs were heavy and shaking from fatigue, I continued. I was unable to remain in the vicinity of Moons

aused my eyesight to blur rather than tears. The humiliation, the emptiness, the rejection. The only sound that came out of my mouth

ot necessa

layed again, they became deeper. I had been rejected by my partner, or rather,

, "Damn you, Kieran." My skin was pricked by the

wed myself to trust in the link and in him. Because I believed the mate link meant something, I had

eant enough

wl vibrate in my breast. Her sorrow and anger pulsed through me l

growled, "We d

," despite the fact t

d a familiar aroma. Earth and pine, with a hint o

ery sound and shadow was heightened, and my senses were on high alert.

fied. There were no pack wolves here. The

erratic and often aggressive. My vitality was depleted by the never-ending

ustling of leaves to my left. A person with eyes th

made my skin crawl. He stepped closer, his motions slow and deliberat

low and sarcastic as he drew close. A litt

dy to shift if needed

d his head. He sniffed the air and stated, "You smell

han I anticipated, and I flin

" "Don't you think rejection leaves a mark? That

, defiantly looking into his ey

want, tiny wolf? That's a better question. Retaliation? Strength? Or have you been ca

s I clenched my fists. "Ther

d. His voice was grim as he said, "Everyone

manding that I take action. However, his head jerked sideways b

eres

y and his nostrils flared. His smile turned into som

one," as his eyes darted beyond m

ck in place, despite my instincts telling me to flee. The rogue stepped bac

shed out, speaking more s

stern look as his lips twisted into a sneer. "You do

ncertainty at odds. "W

into anarchy befo

echoed through the woods. The rogue's eyes widened as a

huge, its black fur shining in the early morning light. With a ferocious intensity

mpse of something unreadable passed over his face as he looked

om a human into a snarling, lean wolf. Without hesitation, he sprang fo

rls filled the air, claws ripped into fur, and teeth snapped. The situation was playing out l

t took

The black wolf was too powerful for the renegade, who struggled, snapping and growling.

t to see what wo

asping for air. My body moved instincti

scape the sound of paws hi

a strong, authoritative voic

e, do n

. Even though I didn't know the v

ing directly in front of me, its electr