ra'

ass broke around her as she hit the ground outside, but there was no time to check

The outlaw attack

rd the trees. The morning sun had barely risen, creati

th birthday. Then again, rogues didn't get birthday par

ing that had happened. Rogues didn't get mate points. Everyone knew that.

for her life with a fres

chest. Like an invisible rope pulling her northward. Astra had never

herself, ducking behind a thick tree. "B

ck her better. Astra knew she couldn't outrun them as a human, but shifting would l

he had n

er body-bones cracking and rearranging, skin stretching over new muscles.

here Astra had been. Her wolf form was smaller t

r the years. The pull in her chest grew stronger with each step

ttackers. She found a small cave hidden behind a waterfall

me," she whispered,

ost in her flight. Astra couldn't remember the last time she'd eaten a pro

ve, it seemed to glow slightly-a crescent moon circled by five small

the mark. "Follow you to some wolf who'll proba

to ignore. Like an itch under

ms, she saw a pair of ice-blue eyes watching her from t

asp as rough hand

she recognized. One of Master Kron's frie

ne was twice her size. Another wolf

ump you gave him. He's giving a reward to whoever brings you back

stra's body. She kn

e fun first," said the seco

rned white-hot, sending waves of strength through her body. With a scre

He let go, and Astra didn't waste the chance. She kicked the

ed for her again, but A

ore. The pull in her chest was now an urgent tug, almost

or caves. The mate mark continued to burn, getting stronger each day. The pull

heard whispers about. The Northern Packs. The most powerful werewolves in the land liv

r these lands. The sentence w

her forward, straight t

ching the mark. "Whoever is on the other

g was changing inside her-a new strength she couldn't

napped b

ves, each wearing the symbol of the Northern Pack on leather ban

tall man with scars across his face. "You've cros

e," she said. "I don't mean any harm.

t each other, clear

ordered the

, showing the crescent moon and s

bled one. "That's

ra's voice shook

Northern Pack," he said. "The most powerful Alpha in all

Alpha Alaric-her mate? She had heard stories of his harshness,

be a mistake

ed man, his tone suddenly po

eper and more powerful than any Astra had ever heard. The wo

carred man. "The Alpha

eemed to go totally silent. The pull in her chest w

epped into view, its ice-blue eyes locking

d, shifting into the shape of a

her, his face a mask of sh

voice like thunder. "A