Lily Heat scorched Lily’s skin. She held her hands up, palms facing forward, as she edged closer. “Elijah!” she screamed. Panic engulfed her, swelling like the tidal wave of fire filling the kitchen. “Elijah!” A wooden beam groaned and creaked above. Moving deftly to the side, Lily dodged it as it fell. Her breath came in short gasps, fear strangling her. Choking and coughing, Lily yanked her top off and wrapped it around her nose and mouth. Tears streamed down her soot-stained cheeks, snaking paths and dripping from her chin. The only relief afforded to her was the steady pull of the bond. Elijah couldn’t be dead; he couldn’t be, not when she could still feel the tug of it towing her towards the kitchen. The kitchen, where the flames were coming from… “Elijah!&r

  Elijah Grey eyes hardened, turning dark as they surveyed the damage to his warm, familiar kitchen. He focused on the blackened counters, on the charred table. He focused on anything he could to keep the pain at bay. Just like Leahne, Lily had seen him for what he truly was and left. Without thinking, Elijah swept from his cabin. He couldn’t stand seeing what he had done. The evening sun heated his back and shoulders as he marched across his territory. He did not deserve such gentle caresses as afforded to him by the sun. He was a creature of fire; to revel in it after today made tears spring to his eyes. He could barely see by the time he reached the one place he knew he would find solace. Elijah had been here twice before. “No one will ever love you as I did,” Leahne swore in his ear, beckoning him down towards the riv

  Elijah “I came as fast as I could.” Nirmana spoke between ragged breaths. “I came to find you in the pack house, Alpha, but you weren’t in your office, or the meeting rooms, or anywhere–“ Face flushing bright red, she cut herself off. “My apologies, Alpha.” She bowed. “Thank you for finding me so promptly.” Elijah squeezed her arm and stood. Waves of fear crashed over his head. “Please, Nirmana, would you gather my Beta, Gamma, and…” he thought quickly, chewing on his cheek as he considered which members of his pack would be most useful. “I’ll need six Warrior Wolves: Haile, Conall, Valens, Jared, Nethia, and Lafey.” He selected a mixture of older, more experienced warriors, and younger, brawny wolves. “Of course, Alpha.” Nirmana bowed again. “I

  Atticus No matter how many times Atticus told himself that his move on the Sea Pine pack was tactical, and for the benefit of Blood Moon, there was a kernel of truth nestled somewhere deep within him that would not remain quiet. That kernel was the reason he had distanced himself from his parents, Ralphin, and Trove. He felt their judgement in waves whenever he was near to him, and Atticus could have sworn that their eyes followed him around their encampment whenever they stopped to rest. They needed food. They needed a show of strength. But, above all, Atticus needed Lily. He spent his nights curled up atop his bedroll, hardly noticing the way he shivered as his thoughts swirled within his skull. He imagined what his life would have been like had he not rejected her, and the pain of that imagined reality only served to send him spiralling further.&n

  Atticus “Two?” “Two of our wolves?” The chorus rose quickly, spreading through his pack like wildfire. Everywhere Atticus looked people were turning to their friends and family, their neighbours, ensuring that everyone they’d seen moments before was still beside them. But it was Alvaro’s words that cut through the crowd noise. “Calling off the attack?” he asked, stepping to the front of the amassed wolves. “After all we have been through the get to this point?” How dare his father make him look a fool in front of his pack? Atticus held up a single hand. In an instant, silence swelled. “Alpha? Which two?” asked Siras. Everyone nodded; some whispered, “Who’s missing?” to