th as Empress led Lucas and Jason past the whispering crowd.

, especially not in front of t

h tiny crystals, their light dancing like stars in the dim corridor. When her hand accidentally brushed again

moonlight. "Everything's going.

. Her wolf howled within her, recognizing something in this stranger that she couldn't yet name. It wasn't just attraction-it was d

even as her body betrayed her with its instinctive

eamed in the crystal light, and her wise eyes took in everything with a single look. "Pu

g fireflies. Maya's eyes widened, and she leaned closer to study them. "I'v

She found herself kneeling beside him, her hand hovering near his, wanting

heat she found there. "The fever's strong. Whatever bit him carried ancie

rust him." His eyes lingered on how close Empress sat to Lucas, a flash of something-jealousy?-crossing his features be

f hair from Lucas's forehead. His skin burned beneath her touch, but the contact seemed to ease his pained face.

making the crystals pulse with light. A

refully,

starlight but hard to ignore. It held the weight of

ring either rescue or destruction to your pack. The choice lies in your hands, but choos

sparkling with an eerie blue light that filled the cave with da

as he began to tremble.

egs. Energy crackled between Empress and Lucas, making their hair s

way. "They're coming. The shadows. He wants the power.

t something crack open inside her-a weakness she had never allowed herself to fe

like burning coals. Ancient stones covered in bright symbols that matched the ones on Luca

g with a freedom she had never known; Lucas standing tall against enemies, defending those weaker than

asked, strain clear in his voice

wooden bowl. The strong smell filled the air. "But h

the sentence. Sh

before she even understood why he mattered so much to her was heartbreaki

is ear. "You're safe with me. I won't let

surrounded by tall stones carved with old symbols. Wolves with silver fur fought against creatures made of live shado

s's

he Alpha lay dying, his blood darkening the grass. With his last breath, he pressed his

hisper: "Find her. The one whose heart fits yours

dy now. Sweat soaked his skin, but the fever's dangerous heat was fa

omething deeper in his expression-he'd known her long enough to recognize when she'd exp

.. I think I saw the Moonshadow Pack. But they wer

y were the most powerful wolves ever known. It was said they could bend moonlight its

eplaced by confusion and tiredness. When he saw Empress, something

ed. "In my dreams. You fough

is face before she could stop herself

my whole life." His fingers tightened around hers. "You feel

never allowed anyone to see her as anything but strong and certain. Y

cave-the call for a pack meeti

r one last time. "I'll watch over him.

liding apart. The moment they lost touch, she f

e meeting, "we'll face it together. Like we always have.

er, the vision they'd shared, the strange sense of connection that defied explanation. For

to understand what's happening. With Lucas, with these shadows, with everythi

stood beside you through everything. Don't let some stranger with prett

bout forgetting anything. It's about protecting the pack fr

on replied. "The trouble

We just didn't see it." She put a hand on his arm. "I n

ing the electric connection she'd felt with Lucas. "I'm a

ass whispered: Found you at last, little heir. The last of the Moonshadow blood. Your power will be mine, and the locks will finally break

something began to laugh. A sound like winter wind th

ost, looking over her children as old powers