LOGINMarina's PovThe woman was stunning in a way that made my chest tight.She was tall, maybe five-ten, with long dark hair pulled back in a warrior's braid and muscles that spoke of years of training. She wore leather fighting gear that showed off her toned arms and legs, everything about her screamed strength and power.Everything I wasn't.She looked at me lying in the bed, my throat bandaged, my body weak and broken, and her lip curled with pure contempt."So this is the famous Luna," she said, her voice dripping with disdain, "The wolfless slave who somehow captured our King's attention."Lycan moved between us immediately, his body blocking her view of me."Get out, Elena.""Oh, don't be dramatic," she waved a hand dismissively, "I just want to see what all the fuss is about, see what makes her so special that you'd throw away everything we had.""We never had anything," Lycan's voice was ice, "Now leave before I make you."Elena laughed, bitter and sharp, "You'd really threaten m
The knife bit deeper into my throat and I felt warm blood sliding down my neck, soaking into my collar.Derek was dragging me backward, away from the border, away from safety, and Lycan couldn't move without risking my death.I wasn't going to die here.Not like this, not at the hands of the man who'd thrown me away like garbage.I remembered what Lycan taught me, fight dirty, use whatever advantage you have, and make them regret underestimating you.So I went completely limp. I became dead weight in Derek's arms.He stumbled, caught off guard by the sudden shift, and his grip loosened just slightly.That was all I needed.I slammed my elbow back into his ribs with everything I had and felt something crack. Derek gasped, his hold weakening, and I stomped down hard on his instep. I twisted in his grip, clawed at his face, his eyes, anything I could reach.The knife cut deeper as he struggled to hold me and more blood poured down my neck but I didn't stop. I screamed and bit down hard
Marina's PovWe walked in silence as the sun rose higher.My feet still hurt but the new socks helped. My body ached from sleeping on the ground and from yesterday's brutal training but I felt more alive than I had in years.Lycan walked slightly ahead of me, scanning the forest with those sharp gray eyes. Every few minutes he'd glance back to check on me, making sure I was still there, still safe. I was hyper-aware of him. The way he moved. The breadth of his shoulders. The casual power in every step. The mark on my neck pulsed with heat whenever I looked at him too long."Tell me about Alpha Marcus," he said suddenly.My stomach tightened. "What do you want to know?""Everything. Start with how he treated you after you turned thirteen."I was quiet for a moment. Then I started talking."He looked through me. Like I wasn't there. Like I was furniture." My voice was flat. "Before, when I was little, he'd ruffle my hair when he passed. Call me 'little one.' After I didn't shift, he w
Marina's PovI moved closer. My heart was pounding. I didn't understand what was happening.He pulled me against his chest. One arm wrapped around my waist, holding me in place. I could feel his heartbeat against my back. Steady. Calm. Like this was nothing.Then he leaned down and bit my neck.Pain exploded white-hot and blinding. I gasped and tried to pull away. His arm tightened, holding me still. His teeth sank deeper into the spot where my neck met my shoulder, breaking skin and drawing blood.The pain shifted, changing into something else. Something warm and electric that spread through my entire body like fire. The bond between us flared to life.His tongue dragged across the wound possessively then he released me.I stumbled. My hand went to my neck. It came away bloody.Lycan turned back to the rogues. "Now she's marked. Still think she's fair game?"The rogues' eyes had gone wide. One of them stepped back. Then another. They were staring at Lycan like they'd just realized th
Marina's Pov I woke up alone.For a second, panic clawed at my throat. He left. The deal was fake. I was alone again. My hand went to my chest, pressing against the hollow ache that felt too familiar.Then I heard a dragging sound. Heavy. Wet.I pushed out of the tent and my breath stopped.Lycan was dragging a body. A dead wolf. Its throat was torn open, hanging by threads of skin and muscle. Blood soaked the ground in a dark trail behind it. Near what was left of the fire, two more bodies lay crumpled and broken."They came during the night," Lycan said matter-of-factly. . His voice was calm, like he was telling me about the weather. He dropped the body with the other two. The sound it made—the wet thud of dead weight hitting earth—made my stomach turn. "Three of them. They smelled you. Thought you were easy prey."He looked at me then. Blood spattered his face and chest. It was in his hair and under his fingernails. He looked like something out of a nightmare."They were wrong," h
Marina's Pov There was one tent, one small fire, and a man sitting beside it.He was massive, bigger than any wolf I'd ever seen. He had to be six and a half feet tall, all muscle and power. Dark hair, sharp features, and even sitting down he looked like he could kill someone without trying.He turned his head as I approached. His eyes locked on mine.They were gray and cold. The pull slammed into me so hard I had to stop walking.This was him. My second chance mate.He stood up slowly. Power rolled off him in waves that would have made me run if I'd had any sense left."Well," he said. His voice was deep and rough. "This is interesting."I didn't say anything. I just stood there, covered in dirt and soap stains, bleeding hands, tangled silver hair, staring at this dangerous stranger who was apparently my mate.He tilted his head, studying me. Then he smiled. It wasn't a nice smile."You smell like Shadowmoon Pack," he said. "And blood. And rage." His smile widened. "Mostly rage.""







