asps as she ran, her feet pounding against the mossy ground. Her pulse throbbed in her ears, the taste of her own frustration a

mate bond still pulsed between them, a thin, unbreakable thread tying their souls together d

ushed herself harder, leaping over roots and ducking under low-hanging branches. Her wolf clawed at th

l as she gasped for air, her vision blurring with unshed tears. She wanted to scream, to rage against t

herself, clenching h

uickly, forcing herself to stand. She half-expected to see Smith stalking

as C

soft with concern. "Raven," he said gent

ow me?" she asked

ng her face. "Because I'm worried about you. You ran of

"Hard on me? He hates me, Ca

Pity? "That's not true," he said, his voice firm. "You might not see it, but

ning away. "It doesn't ma

r until he was right behind her. "But th

ce was comforting, like a warm breeze on a cold day, but it wasn't what

she flinched, but he didn't pull away. "Raven, you're stronger than you t

her voice small and broken.

lder. "Because... you deserve better than this,

nd there made her breath hitch. He wasn't just being kind. There was s

ds died on her lips as a low gr

, his silver eyes blazing with fur

bond flaring to life as Smith's eyes locked onto her. She could feel his ang

y, holding up his hands.

n's wolf cower inside her. "Then explain it to me, Cal

on the word my. He had no right to claim her, not

evenly, his gaze flicking briefly

g him against a tree with a force that rattled the branches. "You think

She shoved against Smith's chest, but it was like

oil there - the battle between his wolf's possessiveness and his o

voice deadly calm. He turned on his he

eck where it had slammed against the bark. "He's going to

ck. "You shouldn't pr

elf upright. He winced, rolling his shoulders. "And yo

ease, Caleb. Don't make thi

out, brushing a stray tear from her cheek.

in her throat. "Thank you," she

in, and she couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, she mi

f she could fight for her ow

time, she felt a