Bound By Blood And Moonlight

The isolated town of Silverpine hadn't changed much since she'd left it behind six years ago. Same crooked stre

h had c

r hands and a broken heart in her chest. She was stronger now-or so sh

home,

t safe am

eed

Fri

that single, damning call back to the

rything in shades of silver and blue. Her wolf stirred uneasily beneath her skin, sensing the pull of home, of ter

napped b

ly, claws threatening to burst through her hum

ing into a pair of deep green e

n Bra

ore ruggedly beautiful. His dark hair was longer, brushing the collar of his leather jacket. His frame was b

a po

ressed against her ribcage,

te

you doing here?" she demanded, he

"You're the one standing

oss her mind-hands entwined, whispered promises beneath

d stiffly. "I just... needed to

all at once. She could feel the heat radiating off him, the s

he said, his voice lo

e. "That

o be me. If anyone else found yo

punch to the gut. "What

ere's a bounty on your head. The rogues want you-and they're not the only ones. You're n

aught painfully

t possible. My family... they'r

t, and he reached out-but Beth jer

hat was slaughtered to the bone. And now that the other packs kn

ising. "I don't want this. I

gentling. "I know. But runn

ch other, the weight of six years and a t

. "Why should I tru

s features. "Because I never stopped looking

hated herself for the way

branch snapped the moment apart. Austin sti

nd you,"

erupted from the shadows-three men, wolves cloaking their h

nto a fighting stance, her b

was f

black wolf, fur gleaming like polished obsidian under the moonlight. His roar

wait for a

er senses, skin splitting and reshaping until she

was brutal

his shoulder. He howled, thrashing, but she twisted sharp

gue like a force of nature, a blu

Beth was already on him. Together, she and Austin cor

u can't hide her forever, Alpha," he spat at Austin. "The Redfang

d Beth turned away at the

ing, broken only by the rag

as tremors wracked her body. She wasn't used to fig

massive and imposing-and yet, when he nuzzle

ut the blood staining his chest

id, his voice urgent. "Thi

ed up at h

ut his ha

heart slamming painf

o

meant warmth, laughter, a mo

meant

lso mean

and he squeezed it tightly, as

ould. Maybe

she wasn't sure she could survive, but one she could no longer run

the deepening ache in her muscles. The old instincts hadn't dulled as much as she'd feared. Eve

al to run beside

eam, and this-this deadly, uncertain sp

d deep into the heart of the woods. Wide stone steps, heavy oak doors, windows flickeri

, her heart

?" she said quietly, the awe

at the unspoken memory of her family's slaughter, the bloody war that had torn

ine where the trees gave way to

safety," she murmured.

gold from the fight, softened. "I swear to you, Beth. I'll protec

to trust him and the deep, gnawing fear th

doors slammed open, and a woman

one shoulder, she moved like a war

ustin. Then her sharp gaze turned to

inctively, bristlin

stepping protectively in front of

iability, Austin. You kno

uncil said." His voice was a low

utward, a declaration strong

red in shock and

i

sank into

t don't expect me to clean up th

th, Marla turned and sta

owly. "She seem

the pack." He hesitated, then added, "And she rem

fli

t t

mily had be

earth, and the Crescent M

pinewood, leather, and the underlying musk of wolves. A grand staircase cur

s halted as

her-some curious, some war

n her throat before

gnore them," he murmured. "They're scared

sideways at h

y. "That the last Chadwick would

shi

"You need to rest. A

cozy despite its size-wood-paneled walls, a roaring fire in the hearth, a massive bed cover

slowly, taki

ustin said simply.

u're giving me a

corrected. Then, after

urrent in his words.

nd precious wrapped

accept it. Didn't know

asked, "What

tossing it at her. "You shower. You change. You eat

an eyebrow. It was comically la

re's clothes in the dresser. Female clothe

he wasn't saying

d she would

epared

ng. "Why did you keep looking for

le

und him standing closer than she'd realized, hi

ou ran, Beth," he said hoars

o her like a blade

to believe him. To fall into his arms and p

ser, remembered betrayal. Death

e girl you knew,

ned into hers. "G

espond, a knock sh

ugh the door. "Austin. You

ten

breath. "Stay here. Lock

y, watching him va

teps faded-then turned and

mbled slightly

nd howled, ratt

ep in the forest

pack. Beth pressed a hand to the windowpane, heart hamm