a wool blanket, she sat in silence on the edge of the bed, eyes distant, mind racing. The mark on h

es. Two

how to survi

e door creak

awake," Andrew said, s

nt of rest. His shirt was slightly torn at the shoulder, a reminder of the fight in the woods,

Selene murmured, sti

and sat on the floor in front of her, arms restin

y. "How long have you kn

beneath the ruins of the First Pack's Temple. It spoke of a gi

. "Claimed. Like I'm some

are important. More than you know. Your wolf... she's unlike anything I've e

ard, whispering

Not for myself. For you. And I

g his hair back from his for

said, catching h

humming between them, neit

oice cut throu

aid, standing at the thres

od, stiffe

odded.

orm brewing between them. "Can we at

brow. "That de

ow. "Don't push

ke it so easy,

acing herself be

ding myself together and watching the two of yo

fight, Selene. But things are moving fast.

her eyes. "

w, then back at her

dlelight casting shadows across the parchment. Andy pointed to a

. "No one goes there. Not

ms. "What does that

ice low. "That's wh

inked.

dy explained. "They were gifted-part wolf, part something else. S

Every last one. Except a baby girl smugg

ndered. "You're sa

"The last o

ed. "You're not just a mate. You're a key. To what, we don't kno

open. A nobody Omega abandoned at birth was now the last of a powerful

bruptly. "I

d stop her, she was out th

e shattered crystal. The moon hung low, crims

he cliff behind the cabin. From here, the forest stretched endless

ter, she s

n

he said gently. "Figured you'd

I have a preference anymore. Between f

re not just choosing between us, Selene. You're choo

him. "I don't

hers. "But you

r. "You're stronger than you know. And no matter what

at the softnes

hurt either of yo

aid, "but we're big

the b

mile. "The bond will sur

to her forehead, lingering a

ck, leaving her al

, fury simmering in his blood. He'd felt it-t

ched hi

se he was

he was

losin

t he might be

-

e usual sounds of birdsong were oddly absent. Selene stood at the window of the ca

ng was

her wolf pace anxiou

or creaked open behind her

back last night

," she replied, no

stretched b

, Andy used to have nightmares. He'd sneak into my bed and prete

rd him. "Why are y

erything. My loyalty to him, to our pack, to myself... it all shifted. I'm not

y. "And what about you? You act l

darkened. "You

does it feel like choosing eithe

forward. "Bec

to feel the heat rolling off him, the

said, voice barely above a whisper. "Not until

ell away. No prophecy. No danger. Just her, him, and th

k shattered

doorway, a grim

come see this

d on the edge of a cle

hem: des

ked open and steaming. Symbols burned into t

brushing one of the sigils. "

ression stormy. "This wasn't rando

zen, staring at

gainst the edges of her

the wind

rkings-no sound, but a fee

ne's visi

twins' voices vanished. A

Moonlight poured through a skylight shaped like a cresc

choed in

king, or awak

ne g

ion sha

o her knees, cl

ere at her side

happened?"

it again. The temple. The moonlig

and, voice urgent.

asting like ash. "Choose you

went pale. "Th

what?" s

oesn't anchor this bond-it could trigger something ancient. Something

looming in her chest. "Then w

ly. "You're the only thi

that's why they'r

lowed ha

rs exchang

e ones who cursed the Solari in the firs

hey're back... they'll want

lt her kn

ught her bef

side the cabin alone again

s, wondering if the Mo

de a mistake giving S

dy's presence-but this ti

nsion. No

iet sol

er side of her,

ime in days, Selene

ke the eye

efore t

knew... The storm