up. The Lycan King's body temperature was still a myst

my eyes adjust to the darkness, but when I did, I scram

ed bewi

ed to Ryker. Wasn't I? What was thi

asked, seeming ge

ediately. None of it was his fault. It w

uld

und as civil as possib

ha

ate," I stated,

aid, frustration etc

s Sel

e. I'm

I decided to change the topic, very sure my face was still red from the midnight re

t defensive. "It's really none of

else but dismissed it. He was a Lycan King. I was a lost and wandering soul who ha

in denial?" He aske

let myself get lost there, he would be abl

ed

hand to brush a strand of hair away

instantly what had caught his attention and I used my other hand to cover

letting his own hand rest on my naked upper back where he still held my hair, he traced the scar with his

shpered, as softly as

nted to turn away, to wander away from his touch but found that I was stuck. And en

len

verie. "It's my Alpha mark," I confided in a mumble, more concer

a step back, hi

my skin. Shaking myself out of the lecher

d the stains of mud on my skin. One night in the forest could

should be and yes,

shoul

hrone was taken

he tried to process

lyrian,"

features. "Valyrian. The family of rogu

lfless and loving man I used to think he was. It was so hard to reconcile him with the monster who had stabbed me to deat

f a second. His big body enveloped me while I sniff

penetrate the shield he had built around me. But I couldn't let myself get used t

left on his chest. I did it to distract myself but then gave up. "You ca

ardening. "I don't want t

r my life from a man I thought loved me. And then I begged for a second chance at life from a woman who now has a hold over me! So many

ly, I couldn't read him at all. I didn't know what

iota of those feelings. He had shown me attention that I thou

ryptic look. He had secrets, obviously. He had been trying to kill himsel

ad a r

t to spill. I wondered if he thought I sounded

ow it's real." He was regar

d a sigh

shocked me. "

, I raised a brow in

e repeated. "Even if it