of silk sheets and

gant lines toward walls covered in what looked like actual wallpaper, the expensive kind, textured and subtle. A

shitty studio apa

ing. The thing with the gray skin and too many teeth. Rowan tearing its he

m falling over. Her shoulder throbbed, the one the creature had clawed; but when she looked down, she was wearing an oversized gray

hell," she

ong. Stronger. Deepe

ed, slightly ragged from biting them when she got nervous. No black claws

kind of birthday breakdo

ivid, too real. And this def

freezing hardwood against her bare feet, and standing made her head spin ag

all showed dense forest, actual forest, with morning mist clinging to the ground between towering pines. Not

idea where th

back together slightly off-center. Everything was too sharp, too clear. She could hear birds outside the window as if they were singing directly into he

d for the

do that if

onde hair pulled back in a severe bun. She wore tactical pants and a tight black tank top that

hel demanded, backing up un

f the Manhattan pack. And you're in the Alpha's priva

my boss ripped its head off, I don't know what happened to my best friend, and I woke up in a str

to be alive. That feral would have drained you

hat the hell w

ly. Lose their minds, lose their humanity, becomes nothing but hunger."

s happening." Rachel's hands were shaking. She shove

cal emergency and Rowan took you to a private hospital." Vera moved toward a

h her memories?" Rachel s

sprout claws and fangs? Watching her eyes glow three different colors?" Vera pu

dropped. "My eyes

d. "Get dressed. Alpha Blackwood doesn't like to be kept waiting,

n door before Rachel cou

d with mechanical precision, her mind spinning in useless circles. Vampires. Werewolves, becau

ane. This wa

titches. Her senses were still sharp enough to be unsettling. And she could

e disturbing than anything else. Someone had k

shoved her feet into the boots waiting by the bed. Then she opened the d

More windows showed that same endless forest. The ceiling soared fifteen feet

somewhere downstairs

n a curved staircase with wrought-iron railings. Through an entryway with marble

r the fireplace, de

resh clothes. His dark hair was damp, like he'd recently showered. When he turned at her

oice sounded like a prayer

han she felt. "Want to tell me what the hell is going on

en-shorter than Rowan, with sandy hair and

wan said without taki

d scars crossing his weathered face. He studied Rachel with the same inten

inally. "About forty miles north

proud that her voice stayed steady. "And

es

ds. "Because last night they grew claws. And m

ybe. Or pity. "You're a hybrid, Rachel. The only one

d into her bones with the weight of truth she'd always known but never acknowledged. All t

ssible," she

e. Your mother was their daughter-half witch, half vampire. And yo

rents. I grew up

er power to hide you in the human world until you were old enough to survive the awakening." Rowan took a step toward her. "You were ne

to keep from swaying. "Why? Why would someone

s voice gravelly. "Because a hybrid's bloo

," Rowa

s, Gamma of this pack. And I'm dying, girl. We all are. Every werewolf in this city, in this country, is l

enly. Too close. "And you th

"I've been watching you for two years, Rachel. Waiting for your twenty-first birthday. Waiting for

tasted bitter. "You mean

es

t he wa

was racing, trying to process everything. Hybrid.

The Crimson Moon. You hired me specifi

idn't d

ainst her eyes. "My entire life is a lie. M

ou were ready. Do you know how many supernatural creatures can sense what you are? How many would hav

, anger cutting through the shock. "You manipula

was overwhelming. Six-four, broad-shouldered, moving with predatory grace that made her prey instincts scream. "I'm asking

-" She gestured vaguely. "Take what yo

said fiercely. "Because taking from you without consent would make me

use w

unger. Something that had nothing to do with blood and everything to do

quietly. "Because when our hands touched, I felt the mate bond snap

g in the air

i

Absolute.

one's," Rach

e was dangerous. Promis

te insanity of what he was saying, a howl split the air outside.

ee men

ready moving toward the door. "

hains," Th

at Rachel. "Stay here. D

loser. More scr

doorway, his voice tight with fear. "It'

she saw desperation crack through his careful control

gripping the back of a chair so hard his knuckles had gone white. Looked at Rowan, this

ore screams. The sound

t answers. Real answers. About my paren

on

care what you felt when we touched

s sharp. "We'll

ve a deal

t had reached for her last night. The s

oment. Then she stepped forward

d steady. Thrumming. Like a heartbeat that belonged to both of them. Rowan's eyes fl

instinct whispered.

," sh

und hers, and his smile tu

is time, there was something diffe

o