til the mark

es drifting thro

nes from the direction of the main lodge. At t

rk's warning still rang cl

d given yesterday's healing, given the way the El

ed on he

oved through shadows, keeping to the treeline. Her half-blood heritage made her we

the back wall where age had warped the wood, leav

. Three others she rarely saw-the eldest, who

ace a map of wrinkles. "My grandson died last week. Three da

ell, grim

aid. "Not drops. Not rationing. The great

ught. As much a

ll her," Torin

." Morna's voice was ice. "She's h

o her palms. Vessel

phecy-" one

Morna stood, firelight casting her shadow long acro

blood walks

nt power

will crum

ed shall rul

ike ice water. Her

er b

ngrel. Worthless, they'd said so for five years. This had t

d exploded in silver light yesterday-pulsed on

r sternum, trying to quiet

le,'" Torin repeated sl

cestors built-hierarchy, bloodline purity,

vation?" Cain said quietly. "The ma

girl's only purpose is providing blood to heal our people. The ceremony is perfect. Once Derek m

. The marking wasn't a c

d let them bleed her unti

ek?" Tor

ay. He can barely control himself around her. That makes him unrelia

removing our Alpha," a

irst. If Derek chooses her over us-" Morna's

her ribs. They'd kill Derek

as his claim just another c

od walks a

rom yesterday. When her blood had touched that boy, it had gl

the prophecy m

t people. Pure-bloods. Alphas. Not discarded half

her chest pulsed

napped b

heart in h

eet away. Gold eyes

gap in the wall. Understandin

g her arm-firm, burning hot-and

Silent. They moved quickly through trees until the lod

did Derek

a phantom he

etly, dangerously,

voices. I

ce was controlled but she heard

nger. "At the ceremony. They'll use the bond to force m

w clenched

ds. Dev

ed. "You knew and yo

k's hands clenched at his sides. "The ceremony was sup

abruptly, h

Coming from

His eyes snapped to hers, urgent. "Go

abou

ld. The warmth vanished behind ice. "Because I'm

stung.

shaking before he cl

changed. His nostrils flared, head tilting sl

voice had gone rough. S

w clenching so tight s

u what?" L

er. Then another. Like he was

o," he

footsteps headed a different direction-not toward the set

ning f

appeared on the path. Threw herself onto

nock cam

she made her

I heard s

m f

"Lock t

steps re

ophecy. The plan. Derek claiming he was

od walks a

shall rul

By Silver Cree

hecy meant? It seemed impossible. Ridi

chest responded to the prophecy's words like recognition. Except the E

e wasn't

xactly what they

tside made

ely visible in starlight. Something was

st his chest. Trying t

ack. Even from here sh

found h

. Bu

couldn't hear but

Come.

t talkin

warning

curling into claws. He took one step towar

Barely audible across the distan

to something betwe

ed. Ran into the fore

t the windo

nimals gnaw off thei

her cabin like s

esperate not

ainst cold glass. That strange warmth in her chest puls

wing stronger wit

bond. The Elders wanted

ed whatever was clawin

ot. The prophecy echoed in her mind, th

s among wolves, the an

Of molding herself to fit their world. O

led vessel. Half-blood.

hain her with magic and

icipated. Unless that prophecy wasn't ab

t was ab

her chest. Not the silver war

r dangerous, maybe she sh

tight, breathing in pin

til the mark

figure out

was capable