LOGINGideon’s hand slid from my wrist to my waist, his fingers splaying against my side. He pulled me closer until my chest was touching his, our legs tangling together under the water as we treaded.I heard Sebastian’s sharp intake of breath, and then he was right behind me, nearly touching me now.I lo
Avery’s POVGideon stared at me like he had just seen a ghost, and Sebastian wasn’t much better. His mouth was hanging open slightly, his eyes wide.“What?” I asked, treading water. “You look like you’ve never seen someone take a swim before.”“We thought you were dead,” Gideon said.“I almost was.
I turned to the rogue and rolled my neck. “Don’t worry. I will.”The rogue lunged.I sidestepped and caught him by the wrist, twisting hard. He yelped and tried to pull away, but I held fast. I drove my knee into his stomach, and he doubled over, gasping.“Where is she?” I snarled.He spat blood at
Gideon’s POVSebastian and I stepped out of the tent, back into the mud and the rain, and looked around.“Which way?” he asked.I crouched down and pressed my hand to the ground. The rain had washed away most of the tracks, but there were still faint impressions in the mud. Bootprints, heading furth
Avery’s POVMy lungs burned. Every breath felt like swallowing glass and my muscles ached, but I forced my legs to pump faster.Behind me, I could hear him crashing through the underbrush. He was fast, and he was getting closer. I heard his footsteps pounding just behind me. I didn’t dare to look ba
Another rogue lunged at me from the side. I released the first one and spun, catching the second mid-air. We went down in a tangle of limbs and teeth, rolling through the mud. It clawed at my face, trying to get to my eyes. I jerked my head back and bit down on its leg, crushing bone and tendon. It
Avery’s POVThat evening Gideon’s sister took me shopping for a gown suitable for the final night of the Alpha Council. Apparently those upper echelons of Wolven society loved their social occasions, and I couldn’t disgrace Nightwolf Pack by appearing under-dressed.I had showered and grabbed a chan
Perhaps I had been mistaken. Perhaps she did truly enjoy this simple, menial labor over the pleasure of my company in the pack house. Out here, her body language seemed more relaxed, and she moved well despite her healing injuries.Though, I did wonder at Dierdra assigning her these sorts of tasks w
Avery’s POVDierdra sprawled across the floor like a rag doll. She wasn’t moving. “What have you done?” Gideon snarled, leaping across the space towards his ‘mate’. Had I killed her? She looked so limp and broken where she lay. I couldn’t believe that I could have done such a thing, even with my w
These people would never question the Luna’s commands in a public forum, but they would air their doubts privately to neighbors or friends. Gossip spread quickly in a tight-knit pack, and their silent glances and whispered judgements were palpable if you knew what to look for.The grocer had complet







