LOGINClaire’s POVWith every step I take the scent becomes stronger and my heart beats faster. We go up-wind so they won’t smell us until we are very close. Our steps are light and carful. Why was he here? He has to be the one that took her. I hear footsteps, and I mentally tell Brayt to hold. He stops next to me bowing his head lower to the ground as we both listen.‘Four pairs of feet’ he says through the link“One must be Lawrence and the other Claire…”“Tara is most likely with them” I growl lowly at this“Be prepared for whoever the fourth person is” I tell him and his golden eyes nod down at me“on my count, we attack” again he nods“1….2….3”With their heightened hearing they turn sharply to see us. I take in the scene in front of me. Lawrence is holding Claire up, she looks weak and tired. His eyes widen in fear and shock. Tara is ahead of the group and is the last to turn around. But when she does she quickly looks to the other person. My eyes shift and land on the piece of shit H
Martin’s POVI ignore the thought of my mother’s, knowing her eyes would look at me in grief and sadness knowing what just unfolded with me and my father. He did this to himself. The thought of Claire knowing my father and brother are the reason her beloved aunt and uncle are dead would kill her. I knew my father was power obsessed but that is unspeakable. I try to push all of it away and focus on one thing at a time. Her. Finding her and figuring out a way to get her back. I walk in the direction of Claire’s parents home praying they know where she is.The small cottage comes into view and off to my left I see Lena come out of the woods, her eyes land on me and her face falls. I don’t even have to ask to know. I hear the door and Bryat walks out. He looks between me and Lena and again…a fallen face.“It’s true Martin the black wolf” Bryat says.I turn to Lena and she looks at me with tears for me in her eyes as she nods. I feel my knees lock but somehow I continue to stand“But…” I w
Claire’s POVIt’s her birthday today and she’s still missing. I pace back and forth in my room with eyes clamped shut. Trying not to picture Claire laying in bed asleep or in the bathroom brushing her silky silver locks. I run my hands through my hair and shake my head. I hear Bryat walk in.“Martin?” He says softly and I turn to himI have a sliver of hope and I step over to him“What? Have they found her? Did they pick up her scent anywhere?”Bryat looks away“no…not yet but they are looking” I pound my hand against the wall and shout in anger, my wolf on the verge of showing though“I should be out there!” I scream and walk over to him but he blocks the door“You’ve been out all day and night. You fainted last night from no food or drink. You need to take it easy” Bryat says calmly, putting up his hands“How can I?! Claire is out there. Why wouldn’t she come home?!” I beg him or anyone to answer the question that’s gone through my mind nonstop“where is she Bryat” I collapse on my
Claire’s POVThis is the best thing to do.I repeat this to myself as I walk out of my bedroom and down the stairs. I decide it’s easier to assume he knew about me all along…it’s not his fault. He didn’t know his love for me was because of what I am. One day his true mate will come and he will be- I can’t finish that thought.One thing I can’t leave unfinished is the murder of Kenneth, May, and my unborn cousin…but that will have to be a different day. It’s time to get smart. It’s to risky to get my revenge right now…but one day I will avenge them.I sneak out to the back door. My eyes linger up at the window on Martin. I see his brown eyes turned down in sadness, his lips parted as he lets out an order, strong hands shaking…a part of my heart hurts knowing I’ll never see him again but the other part is glad. Hoping if I never see him again I’ll never have to think if he was involved with May and Kenneth’s death.My lingering eyes shift to the dense forest. Maybe my parents will help
Claire’s POVThis is the best thing to do.I repeat this to myself as I walk out of my bedroom and down the stairs. I decide it’s easier to assume he knew about me all along…it’s not his fault. He didn’t know his love for me was because of what I am. One day his true mate will come and he will be- I can’t finish that thought.One thing I can’t leave unfinished is the murder of Kenneth, May, and my unborn cousin…but that will have to be a different day. It’s time to get smart. It’s to risky to get my revenge right now…but one day I will avenge them.I sneak out to the back door. My eyes linger up at the window on Martin. I see his brown eyes turned down in sadness, his lips parted as he lets out an order, strong hands shaking…a part of my heart hurts knowing I’ll never see him again but the other part is glad. Hoping if I never see him again I’ll never have to think if he was involved with May and Kenneth’s death.My lingering eyes shift to the dense forest. Maybe my parents will help
Claire’s POVAfter leaving my parents’ house, I hide deep in the woods. Every sound keeps me alert, but exhaustion eventually wins. I fall asleep against a tree.I wake to unbearable pain.A scream tears from my throat as I collapse onto the damp ground. Leaves cling to my burning skin. My body feels like it’s being ripped apart from the inside.Above me, the moon glows—bright against a starless sky. Its light feels focused… like it’s meant only for me.It feels like my first shift all over again.Only worse.My bones crack and reform. My muscles tear and rebuild. The pain is endless, suffocating.Lolly never told me it would be like this.This is not what I expected for my birthday.My body convulses, heat surging through me until—I shift.Relief comes, but it’s weak.I stand unsteadily on my paws, my body trembling. I glance down at myself—raven-black fur glistening under the moonlight.Then I see it.Silver.A crescent-shaped marking across my back, the same shade as my human hair
Claire’s POVIt’s been a day since Martin—well, I guess it’s okay to call him that in private—showed up.After one of the most embarrassing moments of my life, I took a shower and couldn’t stop thinking about everything that had happened. My father gave the three of them a tour yesterday and later
Claire’s POVWithin seconds, he is standing right in front of me.My eyes fall from his intense gaze and handsome face down to my eye level, which happens to be his very muscular chest.“Alpha, I would like to offer you a tour of the pack to welcome you into—” my father begins.I step aside, allowi
Claire’s POV I quickly walk over to my house and step into chaos. My mother is running around trying to tighten my father’s tie while brushing her hair, and Beverly is running up the stairs into the bathroom with half her hair curled. “Go get ready now. Your dress is already laid out,” my mother
Claire’s POV It has been three days since the deaths of our Alpha and the pregnant Luna. The pack has been out of work and school since the tragedy. Silence fills my house. The funeral was yesterday—beautiful, solemn, and one of the most painful days of my life. No one has yet decided who will be







