Did that mean that I was born in the Hunters Pack? Was that another reason they hated me and thought I was a traitor? I raised my head and stared into the trees as if I could see the Hunters border. I abruptly stood to my feet, looking frantically around. I was dead if the Guardians found out I had Hunter's blood. If I returned to the Hunters' pack, would they kill me? Why didn’t I remember that they were my pack? How did I end up here? Eighteen years and nowhere to call home? I ran my hands through my hair as I looked between the trees and my bedroom. Dropping my hands to my sides, I made my decision. I looked back to the manor. This place wasn’t my home, and I was no longer under the Guardians' Protection, according to Conri. The King didn’t want me. The agony in my heart was beginning to return from him leaving me every morning. I barely survived the first time he tossed me to the wolves, and I didn’t think I could make it through it if he did it again. This wasn’t a life. This w

Did he honestly lock me up? I panted heavily, tears brimming my eyes as my panic grew, clutching all the oxygen in my lungs. My wrist protested as I continued to pull and pull and pull, but it wouldn’t budge. The headboard didn’t even groan under the pull. My growling turned into a pleading whimper. My whimper quickly turned into a snarl as my bedroom door opened, and Conri stepped in, closing the door behind him. I glowered at him as he looked from my wrist to me. “Let. Me. Out.” I snarled lowly through clenched teeth, the panic I felt moments before turning into impotent rage. “No.” He said simply as he moved to the window seat on the other side of the bed, my eyes following his movements like he was my prey. He would be my prey soon if I got out of these handcuffs and clawed out his eyes. “You ran, Rieka. You were going back to the Hunters. I couldn’t have that.” “Let me out.” “No. You’re my mate, Rieka, and you’re also the Malikah. I know I had mixed feelings about that be

There could only be two reasons. Maybe they thought I could help them take over the packs, or they wanted revenge on me for leaving their group and turning against them. I mean, I still didn’t know what side I was on. Connor told me that the fate of the Malikah was decided after her first shift, but I’ve shifted several times, and I still didn’t know what I was supposed to do. I had so much hatred towards Conri that I would be lying if I said that I didn’t fantasize about his death. He’s trying to force the bond on me, use whatever power he has over me, and cage me like a rabid animal. But on the other hand, something was beginning to form inside my soul as I remembered how happy he used to make me feel, how he made me feel safe and secure—worshipping and protecting me. A part of me still wanted that back. I didn’t voice my thoughts to Conri as he continued to watch me. I moved away from the window, slowly walked to the open door of the study, and stared down the empty hallway. I j

Her eyes were distant, and she paid no attention to us as my beta and Gamma took off running toward the manor. I walked beside Rieka in silence for a moment before speaking. “I’m sorry.” She halted at my apology and looked up at me questioningly. I cleared my throat and looked back down at her. “I’m sorry for what you’re going through. You know nothing about this life, and everything is getting thrown at you, and I’m doing nothing to help you.” Tears began to form around the brim of her eyes as she remained silent. “I’m a Hunter.” She finally breathed, like she had been holding in that truth her entire life. “I’m one of those bloodthirsty killers. Their taste for blood runs in my veins. You’re right to think that I’ll turn on you.” I shook my head and bent down to be at her eye level. “No. You may be from the Hunter pack, but you’re not one of them. I don’t see that in you.” “You did at one point.” I looked away from her and twitched my ears. “I was wrong to think that. I have

I began to do laps around the manor, never stopping, and on my third lap, I noticed Cody and Connor standing by the wall, cheering me on. So I pushed myself faster and harder, and everything around me blurred. I lost count of how many times I lapped the manor when I noticed a black shadow on my right. With his long legs, Conri kept up with ease. I caught him glancing at me, but I paid him no attention. My sole focus was on the path before me and chasing the wind. With him constantly staring at me, I wondered how he didn’t trip over his paws. “Race you to the pond.” I heard him call over the sound of the wind. A sense of determination flooded my entire body as I pushed myself to my limit, stretching my legs as far as possible. My lungs ached and burned as I ran and ran near the bottom of the hill. Conri was still staring at me as he slammed into the base of the mountain as I ascended it. I couldn’t stop the laugh from coming out as amusement exploded inside me. I stood on top of the