surroundings were a blur-cold, dark, and strange. My head ached, and

, my fingers shaking as I touched my flesh. The conflict. Demon. I was alone, on the brink of some unkn

reflexively yanking away. A piercing voi

ion on his face. For a brief while, the icy stare softened, yet it was enough to giv

forced myself to get up. Right now, I couldn't afford to b

inquired in a scratchy voice. My mind raced,

he was waiting for something or someone to come out of the shad

her's icy eyes returned to me before I could ask any more

tion. No time to heal. Not when I was being compelled to play a part I didn't want.

myself than to him, I muttered. "You wo

"Lyra, this is your only option. It is necessary to uphold the deal. Yo

verything, and that I didn't belong with the Blackfangs. However, the reality struck me li

. I di

about. Whether you like it or not, you will carry out your o

responsibilities were not things I had requested. However, it appeared that m

nd." "Why me? Why must I be the one to make all t

s eyes. "Because," he continued quietly, "your destiny was

me like a knife, and I

include you. The only way to break the curse that has kept our pack tra

ong as I could remember. My heart beat faster, but this time it wasn't from the pain. It was fear. A fear that I ha

ible above a whisper. The thought of not fulfilling my father's ex

lied flatly, as if the answe

ike it was colla

ied to steady my breath. "Then what do you ex

see reason. You will bind our packs together, or else everything we've fought for will crumble. The Blackfangs are stronger

sn't just about me. This was about my entire pack, about the lives of

hing about him, something that made my wolf stir deep inside me. But I didn't know him, not really. And the thought

my mind, drowning out all othe

ight it. I h

ce firm despite the fury r

ased. "Good. You depart at

committed to set me, and for the first time, I wondere

ad slowed down, and the only sound was the crunch of my boots on the frost-covered g

faint growl, like a wh

se hammering, but saw

eyes that sparkled, only for a second

n't a

watched by someo