en

fr

my throat as I stepp

my being screamed t

eniable...not just in their matching golden hair that shi

watched me in that stil

had hit them

letely, but they were easily the most h

road-shouldered, his arms crossed

p, dusted with a

rol...but just beneath it was rage, like

s leaner but slightly

xpression was unreadable, cold and assessing..like he was t

. If anything, he looked like he'd

the center who truly

... be

no other w

redators are...his golden hair was tied loosel

king, locked onto mine. Unlike the others, he

with

hat almost felt

ldn't

was scraped, bruised. My heart sti

ont of them, I almost couldn't r

-shouldered one

dn't

e as he reached out and cradled my fa

e, but his eyes...those burning

dding dress, little mouse?" he murmured,

ightly at the

speak. I couldn

the longer hair said, his tone sha

t take his

mate," he

t sure I could take hearin

es stepped forward now,

"I felt the bond first. The

ows lifting. He turne

his mouth twitching. "That's fun

ir between them suddenly crackli

eautiful one with the silver eyes. He

ow, his jaw clenched, as if he wa

ver his shoulder, a dark sor

ful one sa

hands we

my chest surged

e

th

of them

led, his voice low and

e out what the hell is going on when we

the uneven ground, heart slamming against my

one brow arching like I'd

ition to be making demands right now

racked with panic, my l

epped in sharply, folding his arms a

is eyes. "I am

efore I could even scream

e like iron bars, lifting

ck, legs kicking wildly as he tossed me

screamed, the words tor

he rushing trees as he began to move. "I don

nsel muttered, ignoring the way

eked, twisting in his gri

me," he said, lik

it w

past us. Cold air

at was happening...only that I was being taken against m

mething inside me frayed, like a

something ...a border I couldn

sharp and sudden, like some

nsel did

this time, breath hitching as

The pain of my first shift. The impossible press

s too

g in. Everything spun, then stil

heard a voice cu

ey

ke

e nudge my le

nst the light. My mouth w

e voice said-o

me," Ashe

g to sit up. Eve

er eyes looked calm. "Take it slow

fferent. The woods were quiet.

the hel

" Ansel sa

agged m

me. He just tossed a spa

awake to see

im but didn't

ring if it matched or not. It was better than walking a

ed movin

passed, people

ike they owne

feel the looks they gave me. Like I didn't belong. Like I

dn't

inst my will. That mea

building that looked more like a castle than a h

side the entrance,

're already here. Might as well

a choice," he said, push

d them, each step feeli

, a hush fell

owing low. With a clear, r

back, You

t. Did he just

en mean? Was this some kind of joke? Or had eve

yes. Rowan's face was unreadable, and Asher

wo words crashed over

Maje

athed, dressed, and fed," Ansel ordered

talk

walked away, Rowan rema

, maybe even guilt...but said nothing

e a stiff nod, then ges

ttered dress, eyes sweeping nervously over

oving too fast, like I'd step

front of a large do

utiful. Rich, warm tones, thick velvet drapes, and

ned to

e shaking slightly. "Can you.

turned back to me with a

the Silver

trongest, most powerful of all. The h

hough I already felt the

stion was obvious. "They're

another word, the door

ce. My body was screaming for me to move..my st

princes of

st brought

ight into the

ck broke m

ntered the room, both dressed neatly in deep grey uniforms.

said gently, motioning t

lently, too t

was like somethin

le tub, the scent of herbs and

of what was left of my gown without com

ath, my muscles finally relaxing after eve

m my skin, cleaned my hair, even bru

gain, but the tea

ghtgown. It clung to me lightly, and for the

" the woman said

ly to the ta

at first. A bite. Then another. Then more. I

om felt too q

r from

ringing my knees to my chest, staring into the

ere pr

ect. A girl who'd been betrayed by

they wan

hoed louder tha