made her knees weak, and she dropped the basket of herbs she'd been clutching like a lifeline. The sce

It all sounded like something out of a fairy tale. She wasn't some mythical heir to a long-for

all voice whispered

nt warnings to stay away from the Shadowfang pack, his fear palpable every time their name was mentioned. And then there w

ad everyone been hidi

oke her thoughts, and she spu

he called

ans

instincts screaming that she wasn't alone. The feeling of being watched sent a ch

the trees, deep and guttu

emanded, her voice s

nch of leaves as something-or someone-moved closer. Her wolf instinc

d, a figure stepped

sn't

His dark hair framed a face carved from stone, his piercing amber eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. He was ha

e smooth and laced with menace. "I

gh her legs felt like they might give out be

ep forward, "is for you to come with me. Th

on, and her wolf stirred restlessly insi

didn't reach his eyes. "You mi

r wolf was ready to shift, to fight, but sh

sked, stalling for time, hoping for an o

Oh, you're far more than that. Did you reall

acing. She couldn't let him tak

id, her voice sharp despite t

arly wearing thin. "You're feisty, I'll

ut, grabbing her wrist in an iron grip. She gasped, her wolf snarling insid

wasn't

me Elias's voice

ed into view. The two men were a study in contrasts-Ronan with his co

you, Nightshade," Rona

his gray eyes locked on Rona

winced. "And who's going to stop me? You? The so

e to the bait. "Let her go," he said ag

men locked in a silent battle of wills. Then, with a s

is eyes flicking to Luna. "Yo

an turned and melted into the

, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Elias was besid

his voice softer now, his

bbed where Ronan had grabbed her. "I'm fi

Come on," he said, helping her to her feet. "We ne

forest, her mind raced with everything that had just happened

n echoed louder

could she run