The full moonShe had no choice but to run.As a deafening howl ripped through her body, sounding throughout the small room she’d been allotted, Elaina’s long sharp black nails ripped through the curtains at the window until they fell to the floor in shreds. In an effort to release the pain burning deep inside she did the only thing she could, lashing out with wide swipes of her arms, deadly nails scraping along every surface they encountered.Her lips peeled back from her lycan teeth, elongated and piercing as her mouth opened wide, another grisly growl breaking free. Around her she could hear furniture crashing to the floor, material and papers being torn, and the rapid thump-thumping of her heart. It was there that the pain had originated, beginning with the day her mother died three months ago.Elaina had believed she could go on even through the daily agony of not knowing for certain who had shot her mother down as she ran through the familiar forest. Elaina’s father had told her

The door had opened behind her and Elaina quickly backed away, going into the house instead of running when it was so obvious that she needed to get away from this male. Also quite apparent was the needle-point hardening of her nipples that she knew were visible through the thin material of her tank top, not to mention the thick cream now covering her plump folds that she knew the evil alpha could definitely smell.In that moment she hated the lycan species. Hated how their scenting capabilities was one of their strongest attributes and that it was so blatantly connected to the insatiable sexual desires that coursed through their bloodstream like an incurable disease.“Well hello,” another male voice, this one measurably kinder than that of the alpha who was currently staring at her with a haze of simmering fury surrounding him.She blinked at the sight as it reminded her of when they’d been in the woods and she’d thought there was some sort of light outlining his body. It hadn’t been

The sun had yet to rise, but Elaina was up, using the hairpin from her cosmetic case to pick the lock on the door. Her smile spread quickly at the click of its release. She had to tamp down on her triumph, focusing on moving quietly. Only when she was once again outside, in the deep covering of the woods, would she release the yelp of victory of escaping yet another overbearing brute of a leader.She would find her own place in this world, her own destiny. Her journey would not end here; it could not. No matter the pull she felt toward Edwards and regardless of that low hum of arousal that had stayed with her throughout the night, even after that mind-numbing orgasm. He was everything she did not want in a mate—if she were even thinking along those lines, which she was not. Elaina believed her mother’s words that there was more for her and she hoped with everything she was that Tora hadn’t simply been referring to her connecting with a male lycan. There had to be more to life for lyca

“Elaina! Elaina!” Blaze yelled into her face. “Wake up, dammit!”He was shouting, anger at the fear that he’d not only smelled as he’d slept in his own bed but that had also assailed him like a plague when he’d stepped through the adjoining door into her room. The sight of her flailing wildly into the air, pillows flipping off the bed, sheets tangled in her legs as she continued to scream had incited something deep and intense inside him until his muscles had actually vibrated as he moved quickly to get to her.Now his arms were holding her tightly, her back against his front, her head thrashing over his shoulders. The screams had subsided, but her fear was still live, still potent enough to have her eyes closed tight, tears trickling rapidly down her cheeks.“I’m right here,” he told her. “Right here. Nobody will hurt you as long as I’m with you. I promise you.”Her heart was still hammering against her chest. He could hear it and feel it as his hand stroked along her arms. He had no