pte

alive with moon

um of war. The cold air bit at her skin, but she didn't stop - couldn't stop

screamed run, yet the forest whispered wait. Something was calling to her

olf s

s c

d to a stop, g

fate p

ss, cloaked in silver fog and moonlight, but something moved beyond t

lse sk

she called out,

sper of the wind and th

nd burning - flicke

ze. Her br

the air around him, powerful enough to make the forest silent the moonlight. His ga

k instinctively. "

r, but control. His voice w

't hur

are you fo

lted slightly. "Because

"You're one of them, are

No. I'm not hunting

her chest like truth. His scent - dark pine and s

met hers, the

mered. The e

, everything stopped - the

he fe

pu

bo

heart with light. The mark on her wrist flared, glowing sil

a

clutching her wrist. "No..

l, every movement predatory yet revere

ven know w

ned, though his voice trembled with

around their feet. Aurora's tears shimmered in t

rust," he said quiet

tated. "

nd. "Aurora." He said it like a prayer. "I'm D

widened.

tep closer, his gaze bur

nd, but a vow. It struck something deep inside her

pond, the sharp crack of

an's wolf snarled,

" he ordered, p

fore he shifted into a massive black

underbrush. Aurora fell to her knees, watching i

through them, swift and s

r, the forest w

eaking his arm but not his confidence. He turn

you h

ad, voice trembling

ushing a leaf from her

hand lingered near her cheek, hesitant - as if touching her

ispered,

you're not who you think you are, Aurora Kane. The mark on your

olf told me that name. Cel

er meant to live as a servant or a pawn. You were bo

ef and pain colliding in her

r enemies already know it. That's

filled wi

Kan

mian said, his voice low but fierce. "But the

a whose power hummed like thunder - and for the

her head. "You do

voice a whisper of p

her heart c

scent of rain and the faint hum of magic. The moon

hand. "Come with me. The fore

rred - and hesitated. The old fear tugged at he

- that fierce, burning b

d her han

eapt betw

he surface. The urge to claim her was nearly unbearable, primal and pure. But

claim what

pered, "You're s

e since she could rem

opened into the valley

. Aurora followed Damian silently, still gripping his jacket for balance. Every step she

gates, two guards bo

aler's wing. And send word to

inked. "F

r, expression u

ught. "What d

he said softly, "is ab

d outside her chamber, listening to the rhythm of

rowing stronge

hispered,

. "Not yet," he murmured.

and beast already knew -