pte

t sleep after A

urned white-hot, casting a strange silver glow across the walls. Aurora crouched by her bed, tremb

he can feel everything, the heartbeat of the forest beyond the fence, shifting s

as woken something anc

wo

er again, and a faint h

ning to me?"

urst open, and Lady Kane stormed in, her r

arted around the room - at the cracked glass, the overturned chair,

, but the words wouldn'

hin. Her grip was cruel, her nails digging into skin. "Do you think I

"Please, I sw

len

pped to the side, the metallic t

s again in front of the guests, I'll throw you back into

d, tears bur

dy Kane spat, then turned sharply an

hat followed

ting didn't hurt as much as the shame. But

ion stared back, pale and frightened, yet

n whispers, you are

lenched

in her life, she

t, his black SUV parked behind him. The wind carried a scent that ma

owled low i

's c

t was faint but unmistakable. It cut through the nig

e," he

, his body shifted - bones cracking, muscles stretching. Black fur ripped across his

f the Black

ward, paws poun

er into the border lands. The further he goes the stronge

feel her

step, his wol

e Kane esta

the floors, her body aching from exhausti

he leaves outside, smell dew on the grass, even the fain

her reflection again, her eyes flashi

se in he

w it, they'd ca

round her shoulders. The early mist rolled across the

when sh

ath the skin. A crescent moon encircled b

She rubbed at it,

his?" she

- calm, ancient - answ

ze. Who's

asleep inside you since

soft yet powerful with p

u from your blood, from your power. But you are a

er eyes. "Why

lied. You are the daughter of the

art stopped

ges: a silver throne, a woman's voice singing

clutching her hea

ehind her

cut through the fo

hiding her wris

u were just what? Making a scene last nigh

know what

faint glow on her wrist flickered under his

begged. "Let

r back. "Get

the doorway. Lady Kane appeared,

ice was tight.

went cold. "The m

"Celestia's

ed in her ears. "Wh

. "It means you're more v

man territory. His wolf form had vanished, replaced by the ma

tronger here, t

he water. A single strand of hair caught the sunlight

urred in s

e. And she'

pain - faint but sharp, like a blade beneath his ribs.

started towa

hing made

so

ry carried

lammed agai

r

her wrists bound in rough rope. The air was d

a predator. "You've been ly

er head. "I di

ood - the Celestia wolves. Your kind destroyed my family's fortune when

st tightened

ther defied the alliance. We found you as an infant among the ashes. My husband wanted to kill you,

you talk

or Kane. Your bloodline will merge with ours, and the prophecy will final

mach dropped

And we will. By next fu

N

ropes around her wrists gl

, sending boxes tumbling. Aurora stumbl

ck!" she

around h

parted in horror.

The basement door blew open. Without looking back, she ran - up

ngs burned, but she didn't stop. The

e estate alarm

sh of white before

ees, hair glowing like sunlight in the da

ed forward in

a

tree. Damian stepped out from th

s, eyes wild - and fo

r met

into place like

d hear her heartbeat, feel her fear

forward. "Don

e trembled. "

ng for you," he said quietl

er, shouts echoed in the di

ched and tu

growled, "Don'

nto the shado

nt had