The first rays of dawn painted the mountains gold as Kane's security team prepared for our journey. I watched from the sanctuary steps, impressed by their military precision—the careful loading of supplies, the coordination of multiple vehicles, the checking and double-checking of weapons."These ar
She studied my neck, her eyes widening. "The bond is severing naturally," she said, wonder in her voice. "The mark is visibly fading.""Does that mean Raymond is no longer my mate?" I asked, hardly daring to hope."It means the bond that was forced upon you is releasing its hold," she replied carefu
"The sun feels good," I murmured, turning my face toward the warmth. Two weeks had passed since the crash, and today marked my first time outside the sanctuary walls.The simple wooden bench beneath a flowering tree offered the perfect vantage point to observe Crescent Valley's healers at work in th
Kane and I exchanged glances, confirmation of our suspicions about Giana passing silently between us."Poisoned?" I repeated carefully. "Has this been confirmed?""Tests found traces of wolfsbane derivatives in his system," the Beta admitted reluctantly. "The same substance was discovered in several
"One small step at a time," the head healer encouraged as I gripped the parallel bars with white-knuckled determination.A week had passed since I'd awakened in the sanctuary, and today marked my first attempt at physical therapy. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I shifted my weight, testing my damage
Consciousness returned slowly, like swimming up from murky depths. My eyelids felt impossibly heavy as I struggled to open them, squinting against the unfamiliar brightness. Where was I?The ceiling above me wasn't the one from my bedroom, or any room I recognized. Panic fluttered in my chest as I t
Aurora's POVDarkness surrounded me, absolute and endless. I drifted through it, weightless, disconnected from pain and memory alike. Was this death? This peaceful emptiness, this absence of the suffering that had defined my recent existence?Fragments of sensation intruded occasionally – the vibrat
Kane's POV"Aurora!" I called her name again as her body went limp in my arms. Her skin had grown alarmingly pale, blood continuing to seep through the makeshift bandages despite my efforts. Panic – an emotion I'd trained myself to suppress – surged through me with overwhelming force.I broke throug
"Almost there," I told Aurora, picking up my pace despite the burning in my muscles. "Just stay with me a little longer."Aurora's POVPain defined my existence, each heartbeat sending fresh waves through my broken body. The steady rhythm of Kane's movement as he carried me provided the only constan