Inside, the cave opened into a spacious chamber. Furs covered the stone floor, and lanterns cast golden light over the walls. It was simpler than Laura had expected for an Alpha's quarters, but comfortable and warm.Dante turned to face her, his expression intense yet questioning. "We can stop," he said, though it clearly cost him to offer. "If you're not ready."Laura stepped forward, reaching up to trace the strong line of his jaw. "I don't want to stop."Something wild flashed in his eyes. He caught her hand, turning it to press a kiss to her palm. "Once we start, I don't know if I can be gentle.""I don't want gentle," Laura whispered, surprising herself with her honesty. "I want you. All of you."With a groan, Dante claimed her mouth again. This kiss was different, hungrier and more demanding. His hands roamed her body, leaving trails of fire in their wake. He backed her toward the furs, never breaking the kiss.When her knees hit the edge of the makeshift bed, Laura pulled back
Laura's fingers trembled as she fastened the silver clasp at her throat, the small thing fighting against her usually steady hands. In the fancy mirror before her, a woman stared back, looking proud but unsure. Her reflection seemed almost like a stranger now, watching her with those blue eyes that once shined with strong spirit but now had shadows of worry."Just nerves," she whispered to herself, smoothing her dress, something she picked so carefully for tonight's gathering.Kieran's gathering. The thought twisted in her heart like a knife. Her mate had grown cold these past months, pulling away more each day. Laura had told herself it was just the weight of being a leader pressing on him, that being Alpha to the Silver Moon pack asked for things even she couldn't understand.She touched her flat stomach, feeling that same old pain bloom inside. Where a baby should have grown, there was only emptiness. Three years as Kieran's Luna, and still no child. Though he never said the words
Something old and forgotten stirred inside Laura's chest. The warrior she had buried years ago clawed to break free, scratching at her insides with growing fury. Her wolf, once quiet and yielding, now howled with a rage that shook her to her core.Fight back! Fight back NOW! Let me tear into the bastard!But the chains of years spent in submission weighed heavy on her shoulders. She had played the perfect Luna for so long. She had been silent, dutiful and never questioning. The role had now become a cage she had built around herself.Her hands shook as she stared at Kieran, his arm wrapped tightly around Elise's waist, his smug smile cutting into Laura's soul like a knife."Is this what I deserve?" Laura found her voice at last, though it emerged softer than she wanted. "After everything I gave up for you?"Kieran's eyes narrowed. The pack hall grew so quiet she could hear the crackling of the hearth fire."You gave up nothing I didn't ask you to give," he said coldly, his voice filli
Laura stumbled through the forest, her hand pressing against rough tree bark as she moved. Her other hand clutched at her chest where the broken mate bond left a burning hole. Each breath hurt like knives in her lungs. Her legs nearly gave out with every step, but still, she pushed on.The pain was worse than anything she'd ever felt. She could handle cuts and wounds just fine - she had been a warrior once. But this? This felt like her very soul was being torn apart."Keep moving," she told herself, her voice rough. "Just keep moving."Her wolf cried inside her mind, a sad, painful sound that shook her whole body. It was the howl of an animal who had lost its other half, who couldn't understand why this had happened. The wolf wanted to give up, to let the pain take over both of them.But Laura said no.A strong wave of pain hit her, knocking her to her knees. She tried to throw up, but her stomach was empty. Cold sweat soaked her dress, the pretty gown she'd worn for the gathering now
The deeper Laura went, the darker the forest became. The Silver Moon Pack's borders faded behind her, leaving her utterly alone. With each step she took, it took her further from everything she had known, everything she had ever been. The mate bond's absence throbbed like an open wound in her chest, an ache that threatened to swallow her from within.The trees loomed over her, looking like they were giving her a sentence. Gnarled branches reached out like bony fingers, catching at her torn dress, as if the forest itself was trying to hold her back. Twigs snapped beneath her shaky steps, but despite all these she pushed forward with grit."Just... keep... moving," she gasped, each word was a battle against the pain she was feeling.The cold of the night seeped into her bones sending a numbing chill that spread through all her limbs. Her bare feet were cut and bleeding, leaving bloody footprints on the forest path. She had begun to feel tired as her body shook with the effort of each st
Through the darkness and pain, Laura saw something move behind the rogues, a shape hidden in the night. At first, she thought death had come for her.Her heart stopped. Was this it? The end of everything?Then a deep, scary growl cut through the air, louder and stronger than any sound the rogues could make. The growl shook the forest, making everything tremble. The leaves rustled, and the very ground seemed to shake beneath them.The rogues stopped, their heads turning quickly toward the sound."What was that?" one whispered, fear making his voice shake.Laura felt Vex's fingers loosen around her throat. Just a bit, but enough to draw in a painful breath. His eyes darted around the darkness, no longer focused on her."Who's there?" he shouted, his voice not as strong as before. "This is our land! You hear me? Our territory!"Another growl answered him, closer now. The sound made Laura's skin tingle. The rogues holding her arms glanced at each other, their grips becoming weak as they l
A loud and bone chilling growl echoed through the air, so deep it shook the ground. The air suddenly turned freezing, like winter had come out of nowhere. Even the trees seemed to stop moving.Laura felt the hairs on her arms stand up. Something was coming. Something very powerful.Vex's hand froze mid-strike, his eyes widening both with fear and knowing. The claw that was about to tear her throat open trembled slightly."No," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "It can't be..."A huge figure came from the shadows, moonlight catching on its black fur. The wolf was massive, easily twice the size of any Laura had ever seen, its shoulders taller than a man's waist. But it wasn't just the size that made the rogues back away.There was something about him. A strong, scary energy filled the air, making it hard to breathe. Laura's lungs felt tight, like an invisible hand squeezed them.The black wolf's eyes glowed silver in the darkness, fixed on the rogues surrounding Laura. A low rumbl
Laura drifted in and out of sleep, lost in a fog of pain and tiredness. Time meant nothing. Shadows grew and faded. Sometimes, she heard voices, quiet whispers she couldn't make out. Other times, hands touched her skin, hands which felt cold and distant, caring for her wounds. But the darkness always pulled her back. Then, suddenly, it was gone. Her eyes opened wide, with her body going stiff right away. A gasp escaped her lips as she tried to focus. The smell of blood and smoke filled the air, but under it was something stronger. Something powerful. It stuck to the walls, heavy and choking, pressing against her senses. "Where am I?" she whispered to herself, her throat dry and scratchy. This wasn't Silver Moon land. The scent was all wrong. Laura tried to sit up, but the moment she moved, a sharp pain burned around her wrists. She made a hissing sound, looking down. Silver cuffs. Thick, magic-filled, and glowing softly with strange marks. A heavy chain tied them to t
Inside, the cave opened into a spacious chamber. Furs covered the stone floor, and lanterns cast golden light over the walls. It was simpler than Laura had expected for an Alpha's quarters, but comfortable and warm.Dante turned to face her, his expression intense yet questioning. "We can stop," he said, though it clearly cost him to offer. "If you're not ready."Laura stepped forward, reaching up to trace the strong line of his jaw. "I don't want to stop."Something wild flashed in his eyes. He caught her hand, turning it to press a kiss to her palm. "Once we start, I don't know if I can be gentle.""I don't want gentle," Laura whispered, surprising herself with her honesty. "I want you. All of you."With a groan, Dante claimed her mouth again. This kiss was different, hungrier and more demanding. His hands roamed her body, leaving trails of fire in their wake. He backed her toward the furs, never breaking the kiss.When her knees hit the edge of the makeshift bed, Laura pulled back
They began to sway together, his body guiding hers. The drum's heartbeat pulsed in Laura's veins as Dante showed her the steps—three forward, turn, step back, arms raised to the moon."That's it," he encouraged as she matched his movements. "You dance like you were born to it."As they moved around the fire, other dancers formed pairs, mirroring their steps. The pattern grew more complex, but Laura followed instinctively, her body responding to the drums and to Dante's gentle guidance.When the dance called for partners to face each other, Laura found herself breathless at the intensity in Dante's golden eyes. His hands slid from her hips to her waist, pulling her closer as they circled each other."The final step," he said, voice husky, "is when the dancers acknowledge their connection."Slowly, deliberately, he pressed his forehead against hers. Something electric passed between them—an acknowledgment of something deeper than physical attraction. Laura's eyes fluttered closed, overw
Laura kept moving despite the throbbing pain in her leg. Each step sent fresh waves of agony up her thigh, but she refused to stop. Not when she was so close."Just a little longer," she whispered to herself, using a branch as a makeshift crutch.She glanced at the sky. The sun touched the edge of the western mountains, painting them gold and crimson. Minutes. She only needed minutes more.Behind her, she could sense Dante keeping pace, watching her struggle yet not interfering. After cleaning her wound, he'd helped her stand but hadn't tried to claim her as his prize. Instead, he'd stepped back, eyes intense as he studied her face."You're still trying to win," he'd said, somewhere between a question and a statement.Laura had lifted her chin. "I'm going to win."Now, limping through the forest, she heard him a few paces behind her. Close enough to catch her if she fell, far enough to give her the choice to finish on her own.When they reached the edge of the clearing where the chall
Laura dragged herself onto the rocky riverbank, her body shivering uncontrollably. The icy water had numbed her skin, but it couldn't numb the searing pain from the deep gash on her thigh. She must have hit a rock during her wild ride downstream."Stupid, stupid," she muttered through chattering teeth.Blood trickled down her leg, mixing with river water. Laura pressed her palm against the wound, wincing at the sharp sting. It was deep—too deep to ignore.She glanced at the sky. The sun hovered just above the mountain peaks. Another hour, maybe less, and she would win. All she had to do was stay hidden until then.But the blood...Laura knew what blood meant in a forest full of predators. It was like ringing a dinner bell.Or worse, it was a beacon leading Dante straight to her.Gritting her teeth, Laura tore a strip from the bottom of her shirt. She wrapped it tightly around her thigh, but the makeshift bandage quickly soaked through with red."Come on," she hissed, applying more pre
Laura's lungs burned as she pushed through the dense forest. The wound on her leg throbbed with each step, but she couldn't slow down. Not with Dante so close behind.The trees thinned ahead, and Laura's heart sank as she burst into a clearing. She skidded to a stop, pebbles scattering beneath her feet.A cliff edge. She'd run right to the edge of a cliff with a waterfall thundering down beside it. The drop was at least fifty feet to the churning river below."No, no, no," Laura whispered, turning to find another path.Too late.Dante emerged from the trees, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths. Unlike her, he wasn't even winded. His golden eyes locked on hers, and that infuriating smile spread across his face."Nowhere left to run, little wolf."Laura backed up, feeling loose stones shift beneath her heels. "Stay back.""The hunt is over," Dante said, taking a slow step toward her. "You did well—better than anyone ever has. But it's time to surrender."Laura glanced at t
By midday, Laura was deep in unfamiliar territory. The forest had grown denser, the trees taller and more ancient. Strange sounds echoed through the underbrush—snaps and growls that made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She wasn't alone out here. A low growl froze her in her tracks. Slowly, Laura turned to face three massive wolves with matted gray fur and yellow eyes. Not werewolves—just regular wolves, but much larger than any she'd seen before. "Nice doggies," she whispered, taking a step backward. The lead wolf snarled, baring teeth as long as her fingers. Laura's heart hammered in her chest. She knew enough about wolf behavior to understand running would be a death sentence. But standing her ground against three predators didn't seem much better. The lead wolf lunged forward. Laura dodged, but not fast enough. Pain seared through her leg as teeth grazed her calf. "Shit!" she hissed, stumbling back against a tree. The wolves circled her, closing in. Laura looked a
Laura ran into the forest, her heart pounding against her ribs. The cool morning air filled her lungs as she pushed herself harder, putting as much distance between herself and the Crimson Fang pack as possible.Ten minutes. That's all the head start she had.She couldn't outrun an Alpha wolf—especially not in his own territory. Her only chance was to outsmart him.Laura paused to catch her breath, scanning her surroundings. Back when she was a warrior, before Kieran had taken her as his luna, she'd learned tracking and evasion. Those skills had gathered dust since then, but they weren't forgotten."Think, Laura," she whispered to herself before coming to a realization. "Water. I need water."Rivers masked scent. Even an Alpha's nose couldn't track through running water.She listened carefully, then smiled when she caught the distant sound of rushing water. Picking up speed again, Laura headed toward it, being careful to leave as few tracks as possible.---Dante stood at the edge of
Laura spent the rest of the day trying to avoid Dante's burning gaze. Everywhere she turned, he seemed to be there, watching her with those golden-flecked eyes that made her stomach do weird flips.The Crimson Fang territory was truly nothing like Shadowfang's fancy halls.As Laura followed Kade through the settlement, she couldn't help thinking about Zephyr's gentle smile, the way his eyes softened when he looked at her. Then her traitorous mind would flash to Dante's knowing smirk, the heat of his hand on hers.What is wrong with me? She kicked a stone, sending it flying into the bushes. I'm not here for romance. I'm here for...But even her purpose seemed foggy now. Be a free person? Escape Lucian's control? All of it felt distant compared to the chaos in her heart."You look like you want to murder someone," Renn commented, falling into step beside her."Maybe I do," Laura muttered. Renn laughed. "Let me guess—our charming Alpha?"Laura shot him a glare that just made him laugh h
Laura woke to sunlight streaming through the cabin's small window. Her body ached from yesterday's climb, but that wasn't what made her cheeks burn as she opened her eyes.Dante sat across the room, watching her. His dark eyes never left her face, his expression unreadable yet somehow too knowing. Last night's dream rushed back, making her stomach flip.She looked away first, busying herself with folding her blanket. Did he know? Had she made noises in her sleep? The thought made her want to crawl under a rock and die."Sleep well?" His deep voice carried a hint of something that made her pulse jump."Fine," she snapped, not meeting his eyes."Interesting dreams?" The question hung in the air between them.Laura's head shot up, eyes wide, panicked. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"A slow smile spread across his face. "Nothing at all, little wolf."She wanted to slap that smirk right off his stupidly handsome face. Worse, deep down she wanted to kiss it off. Both thoughts made