pte

ns like breath on glass, and every window shimmered with the faint pulse of

e in the fogged glass. For the first time in her life, she wasn't waking to

s and swords felt more alive than the world she had known. Every

opened be

eat," said a

hair and kind eyes. She carried a tray of bread and be

e. "Thank you, but I

gth. The healer says the bond dra

inked. "T

eryone felt it last night. When the Alpha brought you home,

wn Aurora's spine like

y smiled knowingly. "Eat," she said

d, bare-armed and commanding as he gave orders to his guards. Even f

he glass. The air between them shifted. Auro

r opened again, but it

of wine. Her perfume filled the air-sweet, sharp,

the stray," s

ffened. "E

ve of red lips. "I'm Se

ed like a sla

caused quite the stir. The pack can smell him on you, you know. You shou

anything," Auro

rrowing. "Then stay out of his way.

ed hard. "An u

the woman who keeps him sane. Whatever thi

they should have. Aurora's

t whispered

fists. "You should t

ral broke through her poise. "You don't belong he

ving a trail of perfum

slowed. She told herself she didn't care who Damian's partner was.

l in the war room. Maps and holographi

idge," said his Beta, Kellan. "Rogues with Ka

amian corrected, v

"You think they

will

closed his eyes, he saw her-Aurora's silver eyes under the moonlight, the mar

ne walked in without kno

n a look. "I'll g

ned against the table. "You shou

ou brought a stranger into

a brow.

pped. "People are talking.

is my

could stop them. Selene froze

ou can't b

said quietly. "The bond d

rything I've done for you-after years by your side-you're

d. "You knew what this was. You wanted status.

idn't move. The sound ec

whispered, trembling. "S

ver. "If she does, then

other word, her heels

n, tracing the veins of a moonflower that had opened at dusk. Its petals

ith a shawl. "It

d it gratefull

u," Mae admitted. "They say

oked up.

e wolf returns, she'll unite the packs and end the bl

her wrist. The mark pulsed softl

the air shifted. She fel

lack, the last light of sunset gilding his f

be alone out

a replied, keeping he

spoke

arted in surpri

l her perfume

sharply. "So she i

"She was a compan

h there was no humor in it.

" he said, stepping clos

etween them felt charged, every

re, Damian?" she asked.

und you, my world stopped moving. Everything I've built, eve

er. She wanted to believe him, but

be whatever you think

be anything," he sa

touch was light, reverent, but it sent sparks down her spine. Her w

t, the world h

bells shatter