. Rain lashed against her skin, soaking her thin dress, but she barely felt the col

running. She had

ilent sentinels, their twisted branches clawing at the stormy sky. The wind howled through the night, dro

nt you. I

eeper than any

ad once vowed to protect her had c

ing the pain down. She wouldn

the faint warmth of life beneath her palm. You're not alone

had ever known. She had spent her entire life within its

echoed throu

into her throat. Her body went rigid as she

A rustle. A low

asn't

d. Slowly, she

stared back at he

ro

. Rogues were brutal, living only to fight, to kil

rward, its lips peel

weakened from the rejection, but s

embled, her bones snapping and realigning, fur covering her

ogue

he air where she had stood a moment before. Snarling,

d in pain, but

l sounded. T

twisted as she re

ust one. I

chest. She was outn

s the rogues circled her, their

her muscles coiled,

en

l snarl ripped

ogues

d suffocating. A force so strong it made ever

s shifted.

ck wolf stepped i

ath caught i

g with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. Power radiated fro

Alp

st any

is

tening as they let out wary growls. But

ce alone w

low, dangerous

rd. A

crambling back into the shadows, their instinct

still poised for a fight. But th

ues wer

he was alo

wolf turned his pi

wolf sh

liberate s

ncts warning her of the sheer power be

pha sh

effortless. Where the massive w

man form. His dark hair was damp from the rain, strands sticking to his fore

golden, unreadable eyes th

ver her, assessi

on, his lips curled in something

're

red its fangs, but he didn't

another minute," he mused,

n her limbs. Rain soaked her thin dress, clinging to her body

refused

, defiance burn

for your hel

. If anything, his gaze darkened, as

aking another step fo

lenched

hould get as far away

had nowh

at the mercy of an Alph

before one who had

is head, as if rea

survive out

breath

as r

er. She had been running

her ground. "I d

tched, almost like h

prise, he didn't

he offere

e said. "Come with me, or

s heart

screamed at h

just thinking

a hand on h

artbeat was s

survive.

aze, searching for cr

nd was quie

pha. A n

ond c

ook a de

she made h