el's

n meaning. Izzy shifted beside me, her curiosity palpable. I could feel he

te-night quiet amplifying the tension. "Not here," he murmu

pounding against my ribs. About the wolf? About the

make it simple," I challenged, my voice laced with a newfound boldness. I was tired of the sec

mixture of intensity and...vulnerability. It was a fleeting expression, gone in an instant,

ts fluid and graceful. I glanced at Izzy, who gave me a re

ast to the stuffy atmosphere inside. We walked in silence for a few bl

green in the heart of the city. We sat on a b

'complicated' that we couldn't talk about it in the libr

t's about...everything," he said finally

re not like other werewolves." "Different how?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. "They're...ancient," he sa

It's...difficult to explain," he said. "It's tied to their connection to the moon, to the ancient magic that flows

earching mine. "You're one of

en us, heavy with unspoken meaning. I stared at him, m

lace. "I...I don't understand," I stammered. "You will," Kian said, his voice gentle

my voice laced with fear. "For your power," he said. "For your

u?" I asked, my ga

sity that made my heart race. "I want to protect you, Hazel," he said soft

ine. "Because..." he began, then stop

lders slumping slightly. "Because...I don't think we met b

skipped

otion that made my breath catch in my throat. I looked at him,

s. "There's a war brewing, Hazel," he said. "A war between the werewolf packs. We

pack...my pack...has recently asserted dominance over the other five packs

looking over his shoulder as if he feared bei

nds now clenched into fists. This was too much.

caught. "A

a Moonshadow who will bring abou

that's me?" I whispered, a

rk...the visions...everyt

I said, my voice rising in panic. "I can't.

e a choice, Hazel. You're already involved. Yo

I asked, my voice trembling,

itted. "But...we'll fi

my gaze searching his, trying to find the truth in his eyes. Was he telling me

swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump that had s

le twitching in his cheek. A flicker of something – regret? – crossed his face, qu

he back of the bench for support. The world seemed to tilt for a moment, the st

pulled my hand away from his, my heart pounding

to reconcile the gentle Kian with the powerful wolf

n, his soft ga

o easily?" I asked, my voice laced with disbe

id, a faint smile playing

I continued, still trying to grasp

his jaw tightening. "You...you have the mark," he s

ked the question that had been na

ly interpret as sympathy. "Hazel," he said gently, "I...I don'