The Pack of Lies

ed with a disturbing mixture of menace and enjoyment as the man took a

lf surfaced. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voic

arcastic voice, "You felt it, didn't you?" he asked, his voice smo

r palms sticky. "I don't know

d. "You think those rogues came for your s

, stepping protectively in fron

down Esme's spine. "You think you can pro

her fists. "

ng. "You're the key. The prophecy wasn't about t

whispered, her vo

is." She launched herself at the man, her

threw Alina backward, clashing into a tree. She groaned

back into his wolf form, his black fur bris

n? How did he know about her? And

ff his coat. "Fighting me is pointless. I

ou want," she said,

here comes a time you will have to choose. A

er head. "Yo

this time. "Ask your father. Ask hi

k, his body disappearing into the shadows. His v

tle wolf. Time

ll over th

an form, her face pale and her

d softly, remaining

g to catch the stranger's

The man's words echoed in her head. *The prophecy wasn'

her out of her thoughts. "What did h

, but even as she said it, doubt

We need to go back. Fath

has been lying to us, don't you see? He's h

tern expression returned. "Even if that's true, we need

an form, his gray eyes sharp. "Your fa

ers turne

ou mean?"

w. "Wolves who know the truth about the p

trust you?" A

n won't stop until he gets what he wants, and if you go back to y

is words, he had a point. The man in the shadows had been po

ina said, her voice fir

s the truth,"

the first time, Esme saw unce

her tone clipped. "But if th

nation hardening her

r into the forest, his move

Alina asked, her voice

ho can help,"

im. "You never to

d. "Call

ew that name, but sh

ingly hours, the forest became d

king the moonlight's visibility. The

in the center, its windows casting a soft glow of ple

careful look befor

, the door was pushed open a

ng blue eyes seemed to see straight through them."Yo

"They need yo

Esme, and she smiled faintly

ed. "Do I

e been watching over you since

ned. "Who

replied. "And I know the

hed. "The truth? A

t, you must understand one thing: your

at mean?" Ali

you both," Selene said, her tone grave. "

n down her spine. "W

und beneath them trembled, and a lo

n darkened. "We'

narrowed. "The

asked, her

de said. "And th

eyes glowing with unnatural light. At their center sto

ould run from me?" He taunt

to fight. "You'll never get what you want," she murmured,

wolf. "You have no idea what I want." He raised

rd, her blue eyes bl

ght light burst from her palms

only the beginning," he whispered, his voice boom

ne, her heart beating. "What's happening to me

unfolding. And you, Esme, are in the middle of it all." Before Esme co

forest, its eyes burning crimson

paled. "That's

ed, her instincts

ked on Esme. And then, in a voice that was

e wi

pack wi