dn't ha

er when the bond was burning a hole through my chest, dragg

olves settled into their rooms for the night. Then I slipped out of the servants' quarter

m. Third floor, east win

and prayed no one would see me. If anyone caught me sne

kept w

illed through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the fl

my hand

pened befo

uttoned. His eyes locked onto mine, dark and intense, and the bond

ou would come,"

either," I

aside, and

nated one side, dark wood and heavy blankets. A fireplace crackled softly on the other side, castin

licked shu

denly aware of how small I felt

the way he said my n

nsane," I

kno

one fin

y wo

ulders, the way his hands were clenched at

u ask me he

ng just in front of me. Close enough that

," he said roughly. "I have tried.

ath hi

nd strained. "It is not supposed to feel l

," I wh

ng across my cheek. The touch sent heat rushing

"Tell me this is a mistake, and

e said the words and left b

I di

ed up and pulled

ying to memorize the taste of me. His hands slid down to my wais

owled in

e toward the bed, and I didn't

grounding me in a way I didn't know I needed. His mouth moved from my lips to my jaw,

," I br

reathing hard, ey

" he asked, hi

't sure of

nodded

es

g in him

skin and heat and the bond thrumming so loudly I couldn't hear anything else. He was careful, more

claimed me, th

e. My wolf howled, triumphant and wild, and I felt him-really felt him-for the first time. His emotions,

d against my neck,

e sensation of being completely and

have been

felt like

cross my waist, my head resting on his chest. The f

ould have slipped out

dn't wan

ns now?" I

ned on my hip.

yes were closed, his jaw tight, and I

won't accept

greed. "Th

nes

kno

between us, heav

even though I didn't believe it. "Ju

n them made my stomach drop. "This bond. It

hat do

dn't

elt the first crack of d

ke a

bers. Pale morning light filtered through the wind

l came rus

nding, and looked a

as g

llway. It was still early. Most of the pack wouldn't be awake

ho

flights of stairs b

t noon. The Alpha King has r

od wen

all, hidden in the shadows, as

a decision about the all

eard Vanessa has bee

d the sound made

gone, then hurried the re

gathering

but the dread in my chest had

ing wa

dn't stop shaking. The bond hummed under my skin, restless

heard the

ering ha

ver supposed to attend pack meetings.

the back entrance, and pressed myself into the cor

ouncil members sat at the front, and Vanessa s

Jasper

. Untouchable. His expression was cold, unrea

e. Didn't even glan

we are honored by your presence. Have you

s jaw t

his voice carryin

m went

, "there is another matte

art s

o

ould

ly, his eyes scanning the crow

gh the hall. Vaness

his eyes

Black

oom e

breathe. Co

ounced it. In f

n his face, I knew

cutting through the chaos like a b

t me like a

"Born under a blood moon, weak, and unworthy of standing beside an Alp

d didn'

hatt

my chest, I collapsed

lves whispere

hall, his face a mask of ice, as I