nd beyond the treetops. The cloak from the Gathering was still wrapped around her shoulder

ts to deci

she barely knew but felt drawn to-a

silver pendant

murmured to her reflection in the

rtled her. She didn't a

tepped

p as if he'd just washed the scent of the forest

ou'd be awak

ne straightening.

" She narrowed her eyes.

yes. "I prefer confident. An

arms. "Why are y

ere promised to each other, Selene. You were pledged to the V

e that promis

o, if she'd lived long enough." "You don

e to make things right between us. You're confus

real," she

-alliances-they endure," he said. "An

y determination. A man who didn't love her but believed he

was a wolf,"

ad. He's gotten inside it. If you give in to him now

choice before anything

was made for you before you were old en

aim, and you accept, Luca can't touch you. He won't dare

ooked up

u'll have made your decision." He turned and left her sta

he garden-sitting beneath the same twisted

n said, easing onto

ryone," Selene said. "My aunt. My mothe

other told me when she l

shook h

e a free woman than live

wed hard. "Bu

Rowan said. "But she

her. "Did she eve

way. "She regretted that yo

rying with it the scent of pine and somet

r cloak and handed Se

she died. I was told to give it

trembled as s

rest S

this, the moon h

one wild. You may feel torn between the

r world would never understand that kind of lo

hen it's real, isn't about claiming or ow

choose-know that

wa

M

down Selene's cheeks as

lder. "You are not bound by the past. Not

osing Luca destr

at evening, Selene wandered the edge of the forest, lost in thought. Th

ound-and th

u

eyes glowing silve

t come t

re you here

lk wit

itated, th

silence at firs

e said quietly. "But you're not the easy choice, either." He looked at her. "Easy paths never l

One the moon started writi

er glowed under the moonlight, and

er letter,

beside her. "Y

d love is about choo

he said, voice raw. "I didn't come to claim you. I came

s heart

l dream of m

no

le. And you were mine."She met his eyes. "Then maybe we're both dreaming

n he leaned in, sh

-slow, electri

n't fi

nlight and