tly what Lucian's den felt like-a gilded cage tha

ng meal deliveries or brief visits from an unfamiliar pack healer who ch

ouldn't afford to admit, his amber eyes stripping her bare with a single look. Still, h

present wilderness of Lucian's territory. Endless forest, shadowed valleys, and the faint silh

shing against the rough

e t

osted guards outside the door, they were careless. Arrogant. They assumed the lo

tronger than she'd been days before. Her arm ached

of her skin, itching for the run, the freedom, the wild. She dropped onto the ledge outside the windo

nes than this pri

rp inhale, S

aring up her back. She hissed through her teeth, pressing her palm into

he allowed hers

hen s

g into the cover of the trees. Branches scraped her arms, leaves rustling like whispers of disapproval,

ove him

Selene moved like a shadow, her breathing quick but controlled as she navigated the terrai

she th

l froze he

he cool night air. Her pulse thundered in her ear

ci

g like embers in the darkness. He wasn't shifted, but he didn't need to be. His presence alone s

etly, his tone calm-too ca

eth, every muscle c

. "You can't outrun me, Selene

keep t

ned, though the edge of authority re

isoner is just someone who doesn

his calm veneer cracking as frustration bled into his v

get lucky,"

in front of her. Selene gasped, stumbling bac

ded, his voice sharp with ange

her voice cracking.

e hard and fast as Lucian stared at her, his expression unreadable.

d finally, his voice low and rough

n't

taking a step closer. "I'

er voice trembled. "I do

t, Selene, you're part of this now. You think I'm just g

ot your

gh the forest like a wave. Selene flinched, her wolf cower

s anger raw and untamed. "You're my ma

oke, her throat tight. "I didn't

, and for a moment, she thought she saw s

. "You didn't choose

heart lurching p

oice softer now. "To bring you back. To g

d hard, her thr

ecause I know what i

something she didn't want to face. Selene lo

it's a curse,"

n't have

omething heavy and unspoken. Selene's wolf stirred restle

hers. "You can run, Selene. You can fight me

emanded, her

oice deep and primal, sending a shiver up he

ath. A part of her wanted to scream, to reject him, to deny the bond t

part she'd buried dee

ing da

hing

ing back into the darkness of the forest, lea

own on her like a storm. She had run, and he had

-