lyn

its sheer weight a final, wearying burden. The cold autumn wind struck my

ld hear the whispers of the castle guards behind me. The poison R

s of the outer wall. But as I drew closer, a sour, unple

ng the exit. Their eyes were filled

shouted, pointing a grimy

ur pack!" a woman shrieked.

rcle around me. My inner wolf whined, shrinking

but a hand shoved

nds, you useless thi

shed up to meet me. Panic flared in my mind. My ha

earth-shaking roar tor

le-furred wolf form arced through the air, landing on the cobblestone

e, razor-sharp teeth at the crowd, a dark, booming growl rumbling in his chest. The sheer force

ared to

beat. He was heedless of his nakedness. He scooped me up from

d me onto the carriage's worn leather seat, then knocked twice on the carriage wall. A loyal driver I had not noticed in the shadows immediately snap

suffocating. I watched the hard muscles of h

my voice trembling. "I thou

nto the dark forest. His jaw was cle

id simply. His voice was cold, utterly

over my stomach

ou taking me

at me. "Deep in the forest. It is protected b

a bitter sound. "To hide your discarde

His dark eyes were filled with

ep you alive, Evelyn,"

k. We had arrived at a hidden stone ma

ld a heavy iron key out t

rs finally spilling over. "Tell me you sti

sive hands curled into fists u

velyn," he forced the words o

is back. He shifted into his great black wol

biting at my skin. I unlocked the heavy w

with my favorite silks, the sweet berry incense I preferred, and the softest

chment resting on the pillow. It carried the scent of

read the hurried script

recorded a threat against Rosalind, a vow that if she eve

ho said he could not love me had built me a sanctuary and sworn to destroy anyone who

ds in a tapestry I was only beginning to see. And somewhere in this manor, Lucius's bloodline had left their records. I woul