en'

t. Maybe the Moon Goddess was dead, or worse, maybe she had forgot

moon Pack's coronation. I took the opportunity to expand the trip i

clinging to the hope that I might feel that spark somewhere. Bu

running out of options, out of excuses, and there

always been close, and from childhood, everyone assumed we would end up t

her. I didn't feel that bond, I didn't feel that pull. There was no connect

own for her prid

he loved me, or thought she did, and wanted the title o

n invited Cassandra to stay in our pack for a while. She thought it

I ha

d I never will. She was ju

me a true mate, maybe it was time to

o far to give up now," my wo

ieved she was out there, waiting to be f

stubborn and so certain mad

not destined

out there, just

less to keep searching when there is no

went s

so harshly, and I didn't like seeing him withdraw

ughts, laced with concern. I had not even realized he had

k," I responded flatly, unwilling

forward, and we re

attention, specifically, the retreating form of a lone she-wolf moving along the edge of the woods. I tilted my head, listening. A faint sound,

, noticing the shift in my expression.

as I dismounted. Fred

ntered. It was sweet and sharp, lemon and blueberry, mingled in a way that

red suddenly in my mind. "Something is about to happen," he

e concentrate," I

visible on the forest floor. It stretched forward in a s

further," Fred said, plac

with anger and

ing from multiple cuts, was limping through the brush. Blood ran freely down her body, her face m

ead. "There she is. . . Oh m

ore collapsing. I rushed to her side a

er features stood out, delicate, symmetrical, undeniably beautiful. A

lipping a

I barked at Fred,

le, her lips tinged blue, signs that looked like oxygen deprivation. She was losing

ot after everything I have

get the horses, ter

rst, soft against her skin. I don't care

time, and I wasn't even sure I remembered all the paths clearly. I

os and desperation

ught emergency survival techniques. Taylor, the Gamma of our pack and my father's mo

, could slow bleeding. If onl

found a patch, thankfully. I ripped a handful from th

ded sh

The rain began to fall harder now, soaking us both. I swung up behind her an

s headed, just away from here, a

hind on his horse, eye

ns harder, urging the horse faster. My legs locke

rantically. "There is. . . There is a shade over here

n. Fred was already holding back branches to reveal an old wood

ed her

ith a rock, crushing them into a paste. Then I

d so pale

ng her lie there like th

ed asked quietly, his lips t

d ragged as I raked my hands throu

mall shake of his head, b

pace between us with banter or e

mate. And sh

fists clenched so tight

her?" Fred finally asked. "Was

e image of the retreating she-wolf I had seen earlier, her silhouette

darkly. "But someone's behind it, an

ning my chest because of the fact I cannot

wasn't responding. But she was st

, my voice hoarse with

o?" My hands trembled

ouldn't take this anymore. I was falling apar

but I could tell he didn't know what to sa

n.

ho

fr

, unsure if I had

r this time: "Ach

h snapped upri

son. And the sense of relief jus