I drag my feet, heading to Rome’s room. There is a fear that lives deep-rooted in me that when I see her, it won’t be the same. She will look different, and feel different without her wolf. What if that bond we had in an instant is gone and we are just normal family members trying to find reasons to love each other, even though we are polar opposites? I smooth down my shirt in nervousness, trying to pat down the unsettling feeling in my stomach. Then it hits me like two tons of bricks. She must feel worse about her loss than I do. Here I have been avoiding her out of fear when she has been living it with only Monty to console her. I’ve been a shit sister. Even when she wasn’t allowed to see anyone after waking up for the first week, I should have insisted. Though Monty had told me she needed to learn to control her hunger. She needed to learn how to stave off the desire for blood from a source that had a beating heart and grow accustomed to blood bags. Apparently, she was a natural

***Falcon POV*** I shouldn’t be touching her. There is a decent possibility that she will be upset with me about it later, but right now, she needs me. These touches, fleeting moments where my soul rejoices at her contact make every single minute apart even more agonizing for me. But right now, she needs me more than ever. I can feel it through our partial bond almost as much as I can see it on her freckled face. Laney feels so much, too much I would argue. She struggles with the constant dread of failing, yet right now, I can sense the growth in her. Being here, learning these small things about her past. The little intricacies that are woven throughout her life with others are eye-opening to the magic and way destiny worked to bring her this far. “It was only a matter of time before Abbie re-emerged.” Joffrey sighs, wiping his eyes. “We knew she would try. There was so much information about her and the dark magic she dabbled with, but it's hard to look into those types of things

Laney stands in front of the growing crowd, Monty and I off to her right watching, waiting for the need to arise for us to either defend or help her in any way. Joffrey has called everyone in the coven to come to watch the proceedings. If that’s even the right word for what is happening, considering this is the first time this is all taking place. Joffrey excuses himself as he walks toward a line of five individuals dressed in green smocks, tied with a white rope at their waists. They hide their hands behind their backs as they walk in sync, following Joffrey, who leads them toward Laney. She glances over at me and Monty and I move on instinct to her side. Monty follows my lead as we flank her and I can feel her unease fade.The five selected stop in front of us, all of them nervous as they lift their chins and wait to see which of them will be honored with the role offered. A movement catches my eyes toward the back. The same woman from earlier who spoke so candidly with me about my

*Lachlan POV*Laney has always been stunning. In every lifetime, she has been alluring, sexy, and nearly unavoidable in our need to be intimate. But this is different. This isn’t just the carnal need to make her mine to lay claim to her. No, this is mine, and my wolf's united desire to show her what she means to us. Love is more than pleasing each other or doing sexual favors. It extends beyond that. It’s wanting to memorize every curve, sound, and inner thoughts she may have. There is this burning desire to just be with her. Not that I don’t want to ravage her body, or that I don’t have every intention of doing that as I stalk her down. It’s what I plan to do with her after I consume her, that I look forward to more than the moment when I enter her or make her cry out in ecstasy. I want nothing more than to hold her after we have come down from the high. I want her to feel the bond whizzing through us as we just exist in the same state of blissful joy. Thank the heavens the only w

As the sun falls, I can sense the tension in Monty, which only makes me worry more. Lachlan’s thigh is pressed against mine and Lily and Chance sit in the third row, eyes wide as if seeing the outside world for the first time. I spin and look at them and realize that it might actually be the first time they have left. “Have you ever left your coven?” I ask curiously. Lily’s kind eyes meet mine and she smiles shyly. “It is for me. Chance has left three times before.”“You have?” I ask him in interest and he looks between me and Lily. He rubs his hands across his jeans and clears his throat like I am going to torture the questions out of him. “Uh, yes.” He gives me a tight smile and I look at Lily, who frowns.“We will have to be as open as possible with them in order to remain at their side. No secrets.” Lily says to him and he looks at his lap.“Secrets?” Lachlan joins in. “Those will get you now where… Take it from a man who knows.”“It’s not really a secret, but an embarrassing s