muscles burned. I was a werewolf, so heightened senses and reflexes were normal, but today... t

rned to live with it. It wasn't April yet, which meant I wasn't due for another

uld grab because I knew I'd be taking them off in a fe

land behind the packhouse. It was so vast that even running at full speed, it would take hours

y?" I asked my wol

since we ran. I can't wait to feel the w

retched, and realigned, and within seconds, I was no longer standing o

hen,

citement rippling through our

she pushed forward, her paws barely touch

les flexing effortlessly as she leaped over fal

I screamed, the exhila

e replied with

long. No guards watching, no pack res

, the hours sli

llowing us." Nyx's v

paws thudding behin

voice wavered as I

glowing orange eyes was sp

don't know who that is, and I do not

dug deep, pulling all our energy and p

at the packhou

aster. We poured everything into the run, ever

, the packhouse finally came

ck wolf was

rough our link. I had heard that mates could comm

would work, but I

assive jet-black and the other dark gray. The black one felt

s, forcing it to retreat. We skidded to a stop

nuzzled Nyx's

through the link-deep, firm, ye

e a sma

d hard. "W

rds left my mind,

you?" he asked, al

t Lara."His next words sent my heart racing. "I know y

ertain. "Lara, your voice is so beautiful. It's soft, and I love it. Speak

r his words, and I felt her

ncere it made my breath hitch,

d hum in my head. "O

rowl, almost like a wolfish versi

you to

moment, his Alpha authority set

d shift back. I'll m

ting to part, but he nudged Nyx's nos

e turned and sprinted b

Nyx teased as we ran.

, pl

. Say something sweet wh

cheeks burned th

l tingling from the transformation, I didn't waste a second. I hea

refreshed and almost... light. The steam curled around me, the scent of the pack's luxu

hanging on the rack. By the time I changed into fresh clothes, I felt c

sto

r hours on an empty stoma

my damp hair. "Kieran's going t

ft my room, stepping int

came to Blackwood, I actual

s I had imagined it would be. The walls were sleek deep charcoal gray, smooth and p

eins running through them. Everything screamed luxury, from the m

the house, I found myself in a grand

d the second and third floors. The railings were made of sleek black metal with

a massive chandelier made of cascading crystal panel

knowledge me-no sneers, no greetings-just silence, like I was inv

was on the upper floors, whe

ara

stairs, waving excitedly. Before I cou

this." She pulled out a sleek black

at it for

. do you even know how to use a

ieces from my childhood-having a phone once,

e show you. Where

en, and my stomach let out

led. "Come o

, the rich aroma of food wrapped aroun

Astrid said

How are you?" Before I could react, she r

ard you went for a run this morning,"

w that? My eyes flickered toward As

you-direct orders from the Alpha." She quickly pulled out a chair and gesture

te in front of me, the rich

te greeting." Mira added with

ughed. "No pro

my phone. "Here, Elara, let

how to open the camera, how to make calls, how

y. "You can use it to read when you're bore

to me. "Alpha Kieran already saved his contact.

ed her number. "Done. Now, eat up, L

satisfaction. As I finished my third plate, I felt two pairs of eyes

blurted out. "Where in the wo

an walked into the kitchen, his

hen on my empty plates. His brows lifted slightly, but

d. "I need to ask you about th

shock. "What

rowed, her stance

ack. Alpha Kieran couldn't

an couldn't reach him, that meant

unreadable. "And his aura... i

ld mind-link wolves outside of their mat

plit second, that Kieran

on a deeper level. We can feel our mate's emotions and communicate

pen, but the moment I did, I realized everyo

e back of his neck. "I co

f them chorused, exch

ide with interest. "So can

hru

l business. "Right now, I need to know about that w

grabbing the phone from Astrid.

ing back from the border toward the pack, s

expression closely as he read. His jaw tigh

him. And if he was on edge... then