The pack

The woman's smiled and it made my skin crawl. There's nothing friendly about that smile , only hunger 

I pressed myself against Uriel's back. Silver eyes surrounded us in the dark, watching….. waiting 

"She's not for keeping, Kira. She's mine."

Kira tilted her head, her long dark hair spilling over one shoulder. "Yours? Since when does the Lycan King claim a wolf?" She stepped closer, moving with that predator grace. "Especially one that looks so frightened."

My heart hammered against my chest and my palms started feeling sweaty. These were Lycans, all of them, bigger and stronger than any wolf I'd ever seen. The power rolling off them made the air thick.

"Since now. Touch her and die."

Kira laughed. "So protective. What makes you so special, little wolf? You can't even shift, can you?"

That word struck a nerve within me

"She doesn't need to shift." Uriel moved forward, forcing Kira back. "You want to challenge that?"

Several Lycans shifted uneasily. Just then, a scarred male spoke.

"We meant no disrespect. We heard wolves howling through our territory."

"Just curious," Kira finished. "A wolf running with you is unprecedented."

"Get used to it."

I wanted to defend myself but my throat felt tight.

"You're bringing her to Bloodstone?" The scarred male clearly didn't believe what he was hearing "The others won't……., he trailed off.

"Won't what? Question their king?"

The male bowed his head. "Of course not."

Kira circled to my side. I tried to stay still but she saw my fearfulness.

"She's shaking." She leaned closer, inhaling. "I can smell him, the mate who rejected you."

"Step back."

"She's damaged goods, broken bond, running from her pack. What do you plan to do with her?"

"None of your concern."

Something inside me snapped.

"Stop talking about me. I'm right here."

Kira's eyebrows rose. "Oh, she speaks."

"I speak." My hands shook but I forced myself to step out from behind Uriel, to face her directly even though every instinct screamed at me to hide. "You want to insult me? Fine. Everyone else has tonight, you can get started 

Surprise rippled through the gathered Lycans. Uriel's hand found my wrist, not pulling me back but steadying and supporting me.

Kira studied me with new interest. "You've got some fire hidden under all that fear." She smiled but this time her smile is less fearful."Good. You'll need it."

Before I could ask what she meant, a new howling but distant sound split the night.

It was my pack , they were still hunting me.

The scarred male cursed. "They crossed the boundary. Wolves actually crossed into our territory."

"Looking for her," Kira said, voice sharp. "Heading straight for us."

Uriel's grip tightened. "How many?"

"At least a dozen…. all armed. Their Alpha is with them."

Damon. Damon had crossed into Lycan territory to find me.

Why? He'd rejected me, chosen Selena, destroyed any bond between us. Why would he risk war with the Lycans just to drag me back?

Unless he wanted to make sure I stayed silent permanently 

"We need to move," Uriel said.

"They'll smell our trail even if we run, they'll follow us ."

"Then we give them something else to follow."

Uriel turned to me, golden eyes blazing. "Do you trust me?"

I barely knew him. Every logical part of my brain screamed that trusting him was insane.

But staying meant facing Damon. It meant going back to the pack that had called me broken and weak.

"Yes," I whispered.

His smile was fierce. "Then hold on."

He swept me up, one arm under my knees and the other around my back. The world tilted as he launched into motion, running faster than before, the other Lycans spreading out around us.

Behind us, the wolf howls grew louder and closer.

Damon's voice rose above them all, commanding and furious. "Abital! I know you can hear me! Come out now and I'll make this quick!"

Make what quick? My death? My punishment?

Uriel ran harder, the forest blurring around us. Branches whipped past, the ground disappeared beneath his feet, and all I could do was hold on.

A wolf burst through the trees ahead of us. Then another, then five more, their eyes glowing in the darkness, their teeth bared and ready.

We were surrounded.

And Damon stepped out of the shadows, his face twisted with rage.

"Found you," he said.