CRESCENT BOUND

en's

eath in my lungs. It was impo

n meters away from Elara-retracted its lips, reve

coming. It was

ery instinct inside me roared to transform, to tear it apart, to protect what was mine. But I couldn't. Not here. Not where

und abruptly,

n? Wha

olf l

transform, but enough to send it crashing against the stone wall of the academy. It let out

an any normal animal.

it and Elara, fists clenched and my heart h

my eyes off the beast. "Go inside. Lock the doors.

lara's voice trembled, b

golden eyes fixed on mine. You're breaking the rules, Blackwood. You'll pay the price. I didn't hear it with my ears. I

arged

f free with a sudden motion, and retreated, staggering, looking stunned. I didn't give it time to recover. I lunged, pinned it to the ground, and held its

I spat. "Or I'll ki

ed-human and full of knowledge. Then it broke away with a sudden jer

ver the courty

ere for a long moment, staring at the trees, waiti

ele

round, and she was standing right behind me,

t was that?

reathless. I stepped closer, too close, and she took a

staring at the spot where it had vanished. "It was...

ers closing around the small, smooth moonstone I always carried-an object designed to blur memories,

e this, not to erase us. But I had no choice. If she remembered the speed, the strength, the

oftly now, stepping clo

n, stubborn even w

me out? Your fa

at just happened. There was no wolf. There was no fight. You came outside, you felt dizzy, and

d over. Her sho

was...

ees gave out. I caught her before she hit the ground, supporting her lightly and carefully in my arms. She was wa

eping face. "I didn't want to. But

er file earlier while my father was signing papers. Elara Vance. Address: 412 Hollow Pine Lane. A

rose higher, watching me like an eye. Every step was a betrayal of my father, of my title, of all the rule

arm, turned the knob, unlocked the door, and carried her inside. I laid her gently on the couch, covering her with

of me wanted to wait for her to wake up, to explain, to tell her everything. Bu

something on the coff

e. Curiosity washed over me. I wa

od ran

eyes and the same silver amulet around her neck. And behind them, his arm resting on the w

fat

ck Bla