s expensive. It clung to her damp skin, the material so thin she might as well have been nak
robe and a pair of simple leather sandals. No underwear. No bra. Jus
et hair with efficient fingers. "Alpha Rowan is already
e clasped them together in her
f is calm enough to handle what's coming." Vera's f
l want to claim you completely. Make you his in eve
ous than it
es
Just
ack, studying Rachel with those unrea
terr
don't let it paralyze you." She he
ing until she talked herself out of this entirely. They climbed back
skin prickled under its light, and something inside her responded. Stirred. Her witch blood may
e circle around the central bonfire. The flames leaped twenty feet high, crackling and spitti
ed to her as s
hide under those expensive silk sheets. These people needed her. That little girl
brave her whole life. This was just on
d through, creating a path to
ge, and Rachel's breath c
ered his chest and arms, swirling patterns that seemed to move in the firelight. His dark hair was loose, falling
g tight. Singing with recognition and want a
ce sounded like a prayer. He
e, she could see the tension in his jaw. The way his hands trembled slightly before h
were meeting for coffee instead of a
witched. "H
n front of your entire pack. This is no
was rough. Strained. "Say the word and I s
her way. You sa
ie a thousand times
hed his face, feeling the scratch of stubble against her palm. Hi
ared of saying no. I'm here because those kids deserve to grow up with their parents. Because that woma
ou're really hot and I've thought about you n
n he opened his eyes again, some of the terr
cause that's what I do when I'm nervou
fe that made Rachel's stomach drop. The blade gleamed in the f
e," he sa
ar and strong. "We gather under the full moon to perform the ancient
threatens to destroy e
n Rachel's body and made something wild wake up in her che
Do you consent to this ritual? To sharing your power with this pack
was dry. "
we b
he drew the blade across his palm. Blood welled brigh
ndle was warm from his grip. She press
Her blood mixed with his blood as
nd exp
ut Rowan caught her. Held her steady as magic poured between them. Gold light
wolf prowling just under the surface, desperate to claim and protect and
resolve. The stubborn strength that had
the mate bond was already wrapping around
red against her ear. "Just
k into her skin, her bones, lighting up every nerve ending. It didn't hurt yet. It
rs someone had laid out near the fire. The pack beg
her. His weight settled carefully, not crushing, just comfortab
know when th
'll
d his mou
pened for him and felt his control slip. The kiss deepened, became demanding. Consuming. His t
d flare
shoulders, his back, feeling muscles shift under scarred skin. The silk robe wa
Cool air hit her heated skin for a second before his body covered hers ag
somewhere beyond the firel
is head, his e
nce to st
re stop," Rac
. Then he closed his eyes and
d through Ra
was being ripped apart and rebuilt. The power that had been building between them
scre
em both. His face was a mask of concentration and agony. This was hurting him
didn'
ndred wolves suddenly connected to her. Felt their gratitude. Thei
gritted out. "
. The same instinct that had kept her alive for twenty-one years. She reached
in a wave of gold and c
rse sh
athe freely for the first time in a long time. Felt the
st her, his body shaking
upted in ho
the edges. The power drain had taken too much. She'd given
nded far away. "Rachel, sta
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