e the weight of his words-you are part of us now. It echoed in her mind, each repetiti

eiling, anything that felt tangible and familiar. But nothing felt familiar anymore. The quiet of the

wasn't someone who waited for things to happen-she never had been. She needed answers, an

't avoid i

kin as she hurried out the door. Her boots crunched in the fresh snow as she stepped outside, the crisp night air biti

er neck rise, and a shiver ran down her spine. She had never felt this exposed, this vulner

s swaying in a rhythm that was too deliberate to be natural. She hesitat

dows darting between the trees. At first, she thought i

wo

roze, heart hammering in her chest. There were five of them-tall, muscular, their fur thick and dark, blending into the shadows of the

in her throat. He was beautiful. In a terrifying, wild way, but beautiful nonetheless. His fur wa

it then.

oul. She took a tentative step forward, but then stopped herself. This was crazy. She didn't belon

e growled, low

al tone sending a tremor through her. It was the same voice she had

dator. His presence alone was enough to send a wave of heat rushing through her vei

eyes never left her, a hint of something dangerous sim

she knew was that Lucian was a part of this world, a world she didn't understand. And now, she was in

she asked, her voice shaky.

him from fully opening up. He stepped forward, his boots crunching in the snow, until he was only a

said, his voice soft but full of weight. "Som

dread creeping into her chest. "What

his stance, his muscles rippling as he slowly began to step forward. The hairs

g him back with surprising ease. "Stay back, Kai," he growled, his voice fille

his gaze remained. He was a wolf-no, not just a w

tered under his breath, though his words w

roat as Lucian turned back to

quiet urgency. "The pack is restless, and they're starting to realize that you're not ju

eem to form a coherent question. "I... I don't understand

derstand soon enough. But you have to trust me. I'll prote

omething stirring inside her-a spark of power she couldn't explain, but that she couldn't ignore either. She had been pull

ading her thoughts. "Come with me," he said quietly. "We ne

something that whispered of secrets and danger,

es gleaming in the moonlight

d never be th