I woke, but the fear was gone. Only heavy
hollow anymore.
tone walls. My side didn't scream when I shifted, someone
mbled from the shadows. "The mist ke
mories of the night came rushing back, the r
g messy over his forehead. No shirt. Scars crossed his ribs, shoulder, forearm ma
.. he was
ut because you know this man could break you in half and som
uction and shelter all at once. He looked like the boy from th
slow ste
elf. He froze instantly and raised
m not here t
spered, my vo
es softening just a fra
voice rising as the panic set in. "Kair
nto a low growl. He walked over and sat on a stone ledge across from me. "I had to stay
water. I took it with shaki
ros. I don't fea
is eyes flick down to my mouth just for a second then came
throat. "You shifted
ea
sed, voice softening. "Beautiful.
t I don't feel like a monster. I feel... weirdly okay. St
little, thinki
s an old prophecy that a Shadow Wolf will either save the packs or level them to th
. because of some ol
nod
so scared of what happens if he lets you go. T
t's this soft, quiet pull. Other tim
o," Kael said. "And why he'
el? Why the mist? Why did
hitch. He didn't look at me like the "scentless mutt" I'd been for tw
mile," he said. "I didn't just stumble acro
r w
leaned in just a little, his gold eyes burning with a dark, fam
. Silly me, thinking a man l
my ribs. "You want the throne?" I asked, my
d, a bitter shadow
hisper him onto the throne. That chair belongs to the strongest of the bloodline, Elara.
n he stole. I want the only thing he has left that makes him a King.
bond with Kairos anymore. She was looking
olf is so
the back of my neck, pulling me just an inch closer. "But I've been living in it for year
nough to look at him
angerous and compl
k of pure, electrical heat snapped between us. It was different from the bond with Kairos-this wasn't a heavy chain; it was a spark tha
m tightened a fraction too long, gold eyes
, Elara. He was just the
warm. He was real. And he was looking at me lik
thed, the realization hitt
w if I shoul
n my chest gave a vi
ir
ough the forest like a hurricane. He was searching for me, his possessiv
ethal and predatory. He didn't look scared; he looke
nce. "He feels another male near his mate, and his wolf is going fe
k to me, eyes
voice dropped, rough and certain. "And it
humb pressing just hard e
that he didn't just throw away a mate. He threw away his right to lead this pack. H
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