is time summoning the heig

, every whisper of movement, every breath of the fo

rrel, perched meters away, t

he-wolves be

like a second skin. Some fidgeted with their clothes, some whispered amon

sly. My eyes scanned every f

a flare of recognition, anything, anythi

re was

e sharp and biting but none of them called to me. None of them

pressing my lips

er de

im to meet me at the car. There was no need to drag

tly from the branch, moving from tree to tree in quick,

tle down the growing desp

strain of physical exertion steady me. I didn't know where I was going I d

grateful for

the trees and found myself st

ly, the moonlight danced across its

ching, letting my fingers

n, forcing the ache insi

my face, and rested it

and tilted my h

" I whispered i

nswered only

ugh to see from above the rim, and allowed

king in its raw, unfiltered beauty. The stars scattered lik

etty. Being Supreme Alpha meant every second of my existence was swallowed by duty, expe

athing deeply, and im

nostrils, so putrid and ran

est of them all. I'd have to sanction Joe, I thought grimly, mak

y nose twit

ne, it cut through the filth like a blade through cloth, honeysuckle and sun-warmed cedar, sweet and e

roared to life, pounding a vi

ed, and every muscle coiled tight

unbidden, as my beast surged forw

a

ized what I was do

ed into motion, sprinting toward the source of

Branches clawed at my arms and

e through the woods, following that wisp of

icher and, more tantalizin

he woods. And with every breath, every heartbeat, the gaping hollow inside of me, the

o a halt at the edge of another clearing. I widened my eyes in ho

ng skeleton, but with skin barely clinging to brittle bo

area. This place... it was farther out than the Snow wolf'

d the figure just as their

ilted violently and the firewor

a

te strides, driven by a storm of emotions I couldn't even begin to untangl

is

is

ppened

honeysuckle and cedar was nearly drowned now under the putrid rot clinging to her frail body. I stopped just inches from her, my heart was hammering so loudly it drowned out the rest of

ling her against my chest as gently as I could.

I felt was the soul-deep

unken cheek, her hair hung in

rned with ra

o her? How long had she suffered while

oathing gn

made my way back toward the m

lounging lazily against the hood, and Joe stoo

d immediately recoiled, their faces twisted in d

ck are you doing carrying a cadaver?

through my alre

e so lethal the night see

repeat that,"

ediately bowing his

ur Highness. I

cut him off coldly. "Open the d*mn doo

scrambled to obey, throwi

m the night air as best as I could. Peeling off my hoodie, I carefull

e she was safe did

tance between us in two strides, grabbed him by

ha, please..

my voice vibrating with the fury

d his eyes was

," I hissed, tightening my fingers ever so slightly, makin

er, until our nos

igated. And if it turns out you had anyth

oice into a whisper cold en

recious brats with your own trembling hands. And then, Joe... then... I will keep you

ke a ragdoll. He crashed into a tree with a sick

d into the backseat, and pulled her delicate head in

s, the tires screamed against the asphalt as

bruised forehead, cradling her broken body with