~ TESS ~
As I soar through the trees, the rush of wind against my fur feels like freedom. My senses are sharper than ever. Every branch, every scent, and every heartbeat of the forest pulses through me. There are so many places to explore, so many stories in the soil. Time slips away as the night deepens. I’ve long since stopped keeping track, lost in the sheer wonder of it all. But then, a silver beam pierces the canopy, and my eyes lift instinctively. The moon. It spills down in a soft cascade, and I step toward it, drawn like a tide to the shore. As the light washes over my fur, I close my eyes and feel. Ecstasy. A vibrant energy courses through me, like a song I’ve always known but never heard aloud until now. The world fades. Everything~ CAIN ~ “I want Selene here. Right now.” Magnus Dusk’s voice slices through the night air, jagged and raw. Every syllable lands with deliberate weight, his furious glare fixed on Edric Shade like a dagger drawn mid-battle. The intensity of his rage prickles against my skin. “I told you not to trust her,” he snarls. “And knowing that bitch—she’s already long gone.” The gathering is silent, everyone seeming to hold their breath. Then, a faint rustling draws the group’s attention. I turn just in time to see Killan and Tess step out from the shadows of the trees, hand in hand. Their fingers are tightly laced, their steps steady but slow. The earlier heat between them has cooled, replaced by something quieter—like a silent understa
~ KILLAN ~ “I think it’s time we go,” Tess sighs as her fingers twitch along my chest. The way her brow furrows slightly as she stares at the moonlit canopy above us lets me know the howls are beginning to worry her. “We should pay attention to the howling and meet the others.” I stroke her arm slowly, smirking inwardly at how right I was. “Yeah. Unfortunately… yes.” We’ve come down from the high, but the urgency in those howls never really left. The packs are gathering. Lines are being drawn. And somewhere in that chaos, Lyra’s safety still hangs in the balance. Tess shifts beside me, lifting herself up until her eyes meet mine. They’re fierce. Steady. “What should we do?” she asks, voice calm but tight with growing agitation. There’s no fear in her tone—just raw building anger. “I don’t want to leave Lyra to face that woman with
~ KILLAN ~ I want to howl. Tess isn’t just my mate—she’s my equal. My match in every possible way. Brave. Fierce. Fucking stunning. The way she shifted earlier... raw and untamed, like a wildfire in human form. It damn near brought me to my knees. She doesn’t even realize the power she holds over me, how her strength humbles me, how her every breath draws me deeper into her orbit. She doesn’t belong to me like a possession. She chooses me. And that... that makes me the luckiest bastard alive. Still, I bite down on the words clawing at my throat—which is the plea for her to forget what I'd just said and mark now right here and now. It simmers on the tip of my tongue, but I shove it back down.
~ TESS ~ As I soar through the trees, the rush of wind against my fur feels like freedom. My senses are sharper than ever. Every branch, every scent, and every heartbeat of the forest pulses through me. There are so many places to explore, so many stories in the soil. Time slips away as the night deepens. I’ve long since stopped keeping track, lost in the sheer wonder of it all. But then, a silver beam pierces the canopy, and my eyes lift instinctively. The moon. It spills down in a soft cascade, and I step toward it, drawn like a tide to the shore. As the light washes over my fur, I close my eyes and feel. Ecstasy. A vibrant energy courses through me, like a song I’ve always known but never heard aloud until now. The world fades. Everything
~ KILLAN ~ Tess might be a bitten wolf, but even now, it’s clear—she’s no one to underestimate. Even in pain, she carries herself like a force of nature. She hasn’t spoken a word since we entered into the forest. And she doesn’t need to. I can see her claws are already pushing through her fingers, black-tipped and razor-sharp, curling out like they’ve been waiting for this moment. Her breathing’s shallow, uneven, and with every few steps, her spine tenses like it’s trying to snap itself into a new shape. I lead her beyond the tree line, into the thick, silent woods of Ashridge Hollow. The scent of moss and damp leaves surrounds us. With luck, the packs won’t begin their run for another hour. I want her far from the eyes of the others—somewhere quiet, safe. Somewhere she can become what she is without shame or fear. “Stop,” she gasps sud
~ TESS ~ I can’t stop staring at Killan as we speed down the driveway. “I thought you had to meet the packs.” I’m sure he had to. I heard him telling Cain exactly that. A gasp escapes me as my body suddenly spasms with sensitivity, taking me off guard. “Can’t we make this stop?” I moan, changing the topic immediately. But he doesn’t answer. Several seconds pass before he finally does. “I’m not sure, baby.” “You’re not sure?” My voice breaks. “That’s not very reassuring, I know,” he says gently, giving my fingers a light squeeze, “but trust me, Sunshine. It’s going to be fine. Ronan is on his way. Cain should already be at the hunt. We’ll figure something out.” “I’m not sure I’m ready for this.” It’s such a huge understatement, but it’s all I can manage to say.