Claiming the Alpha's Heart

ause of a nightmare, but be

the. Branches shifted, whispering against one another. Leaves rustled with a sound that could be mistaken for wind. Somewhere, something always mo

nt of discomfort. No decorations, no pictures, no soft touches of home. Just a bed, a small dresser,

mir

arp and restless, it bothered me more than it should have. There was a purpose to this austerity, I realized, thou

re feet, seeping through my socks and chilling me to the bone. As I dressed, a faint noise

the door and pre

p hiding it,"

hoice," another vo

otsteps followe

harged with tension. I stepped into the hallway just as Lyric appeared from the opposite end, lea

ng, though her eyes carried a sharper

y way," I replied, ke

rrowed slightly. "Kael doesn't wa

ing," I said. "

then stepped aside. "Then I'll listen with you," she sa

vious, just a subtle fading of sound, like conversations dissolving into nothing, like the room itself had taken a breath and held

ady prepared, untouched. A subtle, tense aroma of cooked eggs, ba

he tree line. The light from outside barely touched him, but I could see

it's about to attack," I

"It might," he

ir. I forced myself to sit and eat, even though my appetite had vanished entirel

rd the door, eyes flicking nervously. A tall man with dark hair and sharp features kept tapping his

I asked suddenly, my voice t

oom f

carefully blank, controlled.

?" I p

dn't answer. "That's not you

," I said quietl

ly. Her hand twitch

force that made me step back without thinking. "You don't un

w when people are lying," I

nger, fear, restraint, all at once. Then it was gone,

," he said flatly,

an answer. No

ck house and walked toward my grandmother's home, needing something familiar, something human. Th

he sat by the fire, staring into the flames as if t

re," she said withou

before," I repl

was r

ael. I avoided certain words, watching her expression closely, ga

tood and locked the do

tched," she said quietly, her voice threading through the

hat Kael Drave

on the lock. "I k

what

hat hesitation t

wooden box. Inside were old drawings, symbols, and fa

massive wolf. Their s

my grandmother whispered. "But now th

sleep refu

re, listening. I slipped outside, drawn by somethin

s sharp. C

nce was impossibly still, perfectly composed

ut alone," he said quietl

h," I replied, my voic

ment. "Because the truth wo

" I said softly, letting

ng in the dark," he said, h

ing it from me

g, low, haunting sound t

His chest rose and fel

erstood. Whatever was com

was p