Six adult male shifters felt like an excessive presence outside my window. Perhaps it was a compliment, but regardless, I wasn't considering that escape route. Frustrated, I moved away from the window, determined to find another option.I walked to the door and crouched down to peek underneath it. Though the details were hazy, I could discern movement and shadows, indicating guards posted by the door. They weren't taking any chances of letting me slip through. I was left with two choices: surrender to my fate or find a way to fight.The thought of giving up crossed my mind briefly, but the image of Tony's face when he saw me alive pushed me forward. I needed him to know that he hadn't succeeded in getting rid of me. I was determined to escape without succumbing to a mating bond.I emptied the drawers, checked the closet, and even crawled under the bed, but the room offered no potential weapons. Frustrated, I sat on the bed to contemplate my o

 We were perched on the second floor, and while I had initially considered it as a potential escape route, it now seemed far less appealing than it had in my initial contemplation. The distant sound of bones cracking caught my attention, and when I glanced back at Billy, I saw him transforming into his wolf form.He growled at me, then leaped through the open window, landing with a clumsy grace that appeared to leave him unscathed. He shifted back into his human form with astonishing speed, making my head spin. Billy and Tony positioned themselves, arms outstretched, ready to catch me as I prepared to take the leap."You've got to be kidding me," I couldn't help but shout."Just jump, Elisa," Tony urged urgently. "Now."Damn it. This was my best shot. I took a deep breath, positioning myself on the window sill, with my legs dangling outside. Then, summoning every ounce of courage, I pushed off, praying that I wouldn't end up with a broken leg

Somehow, his words struck a chord with me. How on earth had I found myself confined within a car alongside a former adversary and the man who had broken my heart, betraying me in the process? I concealed my surprise with a brief moment of silence, letting out a breath before lowering my hands from my face. "What's your plan?""Thank you," Billy responded. "Tony mentioned that you have friends at his camp. The spy has returned to Wolf Bay, so we should be reasonably safe for now. However, we can't linger. What we need is time for you to gain control over your shifting abilities. After that, we have to address your father before you can challenge Ace for leadership of the pack.""Wait, what?" My heart raced, and I felt a surge of panic. "I never agreed to any of that. What if I don't want to return to Wolf Bay or have anything to do with my father? And I can't help but notice that your plan doesn't include breaking my mating bond with Ray."Both men fell into sile

 I kept my gaze averted as I noticed Mario approaching. I felt terrible; after all, we had borrowed his car, but I wasn't in the mood for conversation."Hey, Elisa, I've got a new car arriving next week. Want to help me build the engine?" Mario asked, seemingly oblivious to any awkwardness.I looked up at him, surprised by how easily he resumed our previous camaraderie. "That sounds like fun.""I'll make sure to save some of the challenging tasks for you," he said with a grin.I returned his smile, even though I doubted I'd be around to assist with his project. However, I didn't want to disappoint him, especially when he seemed so genuine."Elisa, I've been waiting for you," Greta's voice interrupted our conversation. I felt a sudden rush of relief."You better run. She doesn't like to wait," Mario teased before I hurried over to Greta. My place in this community was still uncertain, and I wasn't sure who could be t

Billy suggested, "You should get some rest," as we began walking. "The first shift can be exhausting. I'll guide you to our setup."I confessed, "Technically, it won't be my first shift."Confusion flickered across Billy's face. "Tony mentioned the curse wasn't a problem anymore, but I didn't know you'd already shifted.""Well, since I've decided to trust you," I replied, "I suppose you should know." Walking alongside him, I hoped he had a better sense of direction than I did."After you and your friends abandoned me in that cave to die," I continued, "I fell through a hole and thought I was done for.""Not my friends," he interjected."Fine, your former alpha," I corrected myself, finding it both strange and comforting to say those words, implying that I was now his current alpha, even though our pack consisted of only two members. "What happened?" he inquired."I honestly don't remember," I admitted, "but my wolf forced the shift and saved me. Tony found me and brought me here," I a