AYS TO C

he wakes. Morning light spills across th

nearly ten. Someone's already set out clothes for her, a cream blo

ight before the dance, the snow, the look in Lucian's eyes, t

oward a smaller dining room off the main hall. Her parents

ses immediate

hat's going on? Wh

e's something we need to tell you.

een them. "You

st night, you felt something,

thought I heard an animal. But it wasn't...

op to his coffee. "T

Both of us are, though you've never seen it. We kept it fr

what f

wolves. All of us. Every family in the

et and disbelieving.

f the packs, werewolf royalty. The syndicate formed around them gene

an't expect me to believe t

gently. "It's why your eyes burned last night, it i

. "And you're say

he Alpha of the Vasiliev pack was meant to

nd of project b

her mother says quickly.

chair scraping back

child. We thought if we waited long enou

n. No guards announce him. He doesn't ask permission.

voice even. "I hope the

"Started ruining my

then looks to her parents. "You

itates. "She's

ntrol," Lucian replies. "You know what hap

eluctantly. "Be c

often just slig

ain, still tense. "So what now

changing. Your senses will start to sharpen. You'll hear things you shouldn'

rms tighter. "A

says simply. "And you'l

s. They tremble slightly.

to believe i

e to his. "Show m

aintest smile. "That's exactl

ardens. The morning air is sharp and clean. The snow from the night

aces behind. "So this is what you do all

der. "The syndicate runs

s like a cross between a military compound and a private estate. Men train in pairs, moving with con

t. "You weren'

e inner guard. The rest st

thers follow suit. Lucian gives a brief nod, then gestures toward Eve.

s at once. No o

r. "You'll have to

they didn'

"They sense what's happenin

around herself. "Th

used. "It should be. They'l

rom the others. The snow here is untouched, the gr

re you'll st

rt w

ng it

. Whatever this is, it c

already begun. Your wolf is awake, and the lon

ck. "You make it so

. It's wh

t the frost-covered trees

voice lower now. "Then it

him. "You need to listen. This isn't a punishment. It's insti

der his fingers. "H

nose. Slow. Focus on the ground under you. The sound

chest. The sound of the forest grows louder , birds,

"You're hearing it now. T

feel in

sed to. You let h

he grips her arms.

e says firml

r. Her pulse races so fast she can hear it in her ea

he shoulders. "It's sta

s before she

ssure, bones stretching. She gasps, stumbling forward. He holds

e forest tilts and then

Her hands press into the snow, but she can ba

"Stay with me. You're almo

he manages, v

ne calm, unhurried. "Let

racks, not from pain, but from pressure, like something breaki

nges, less human, more alive. When she blinks again, she isn't seeing the world the same

in his wolf form, a massive creature with gray fur streaked

Her new instincts know him. He circles her slowl

't move. He bows his head s

htly against his neck. A low sound rumbles from his chest in res

e heat that had filled her all morning e

ly knowing that she needs to. The cold air rushes through her fur. The snow c

between trees. He's faster, but not by much. He gl

For a few seconds, she feels

alls in thin lines through the branches. Lucian shifts firs

hift back is quicker, smoother. She sinks t

er shoulders before she can reach for it herse

still dazed. "I thoug

almos

before she can stop it. "Then why do

studies her face for a m

fere

good

ot sur

. "You did well. Most peopl

really hav

"You did. You chos

w still melting around he

. Give i

ng her his hand. "Come on.

still catching her b

t it. You're o

, though she isn'

er steps feel lighter, but her mind races. The shift, the po

heir heads slightly. The gesture is subtle but unified. One of

arco, my second. He kee

flick to Ev

ves no room for q