edy's

d staining her torn clothes. Her breathing was shallow but even. Her dark hair was matted, strands cling

was supposed to

ad after another tiresome dispute among my council members. The rogues had been nothing more than a distra

led under my breath,

eep it cut through the coldness I'd so carefully nurtured. My wolf stirred, pacing restlessl

ere I

irl. She didn't answer, of course, but even as I considered le

N

is ferocity left no room for negoti

ms beneath her battered form. "B

we arrived at the main gates of the Northern Pack territory, the guards snapped in

his gaze straying to the girl in my arms. He di

infirmary," I sai

, Al

ther. It was not often that their Alpha brought anyone into their private world, and definitely

s leaning casually against one of the counters, his ar

nd sauntering toward me. "What have we here? A dams

ve your jokes for someo

ender, though his grin only widened

rry immediately got to work. Whatever his playful attitude

ng out various herbs and salves fr

y chest as I leaned back against the wall

over his shoulder. "She survived a

ought

bviously underfed, but when she'd swung that piteous bra

on back to her. "She's lucky you fo

e sentence

ow why I'd bothered saving

n, "her injuries aren't too severe. A few deep cuts, some bru

Do it q

most people would say 'thank you' when someone'

push yo

ng sound. "You're no fun, K

d bandages covering the worst of her injuries. She looked fr

s stuff. "And when she does, you might want to try

e girl. Jerry sighed dramatically, muttering under his breath

after that w

eatures were still screwed up in pain, even

eyes flic

ouldn't believe where she was for a few seconds. Then,

gaze shif

h me. Heat spread, every nerve in my body lit with a feeling I'd never known. M

a

e of me, an undeniab

I could stop it. My voice was low, rough, and

r, all confusion g

the word slippi

othing, didn't move-only looked at me like wha

uldn't b