eyes glittering with possession. His laughter boomed as he reached

. She would not let t

Papers scattered across the polished floor. The merchant le

ld grab her, Aman

s shouts erupted behind her. Angela's shrill voice rose abo

corridors she knew so well from years of chores, weaving arou

, and the freezing night air rushed against her sk

er lungs burning, her thin gown snagging against the icy wind. Behind her, the furious cries

r feet, slowing her down, but still she pressed forward. Her teeth chattered, her bo

spered fiercely, her voice br

The sound sent a shiver through her, yet she did not stop. She remembered the warnings of rogues that the Sebastia

nown than to be sold l

ed from stones hidden under the snow, and her legs ached with exhaustion. The tr

es buckled, and she collapsed against t

h came ragged, and she wrapped her ar

st her skin. "Mama... Papa... if you can h

rose. Low, powerful, and commanding. It was not the savage cry of a rog

the sound sent warmth flooding through her, chas

ieve did

llow, unblinking, hungry. A group of wolves emerged, the

inst the oak, and her hands trembled as the wolves closed in. She

er, saliva dripp

e had escaped one nightmar

red, her voice crack

dy to pounce. Amanda shut h

k with a sound that made

nd furious, fi

owering, with fur as dark as midnight and eyes that blazed like silver fi

t the power rolling off this wolf was undeniab

p. The rogues scattered under his fury, some fleeing, others fa

t with fear but with awe. She had never seen

g into the distance. The clearing fell sile

ing, his silver eyes glowing in the moon

eath c

were intelligent, piercing, as though they c

heart racing. "W... who are you?" she whis

ow. Amanda should have been terrified, but strangely, she was

ng hands, Amanda felt a strange pull deep inside her chest. I

pers of this bond, of destiny that t

fire ignite within her veins. Her heart raced, her vision

i

ing way. The world spun, the

re darkness claimed her was