Six weeks earlier -"I'm sorry," said Beth. "It's been confirmed. There were no survivors.""You mean - you mean there were no survivors besides - besides -""No. I mean...Brian and Carlo are also...""No, no, you're wrong. You're wrong!" The two women were on the couch across from her, but the one shouting stood up, eyes wide. "I would know if he's been killed. He's alive, I know it! Why are you doing this!""Amelia, please. Listen to me.""No! No, you listen to me! You don't know anything. You weren't even married to Warren for a single day before he left. You don't care! You don't care! I'll go. I'll go and see for myself!" Amelia fell to her knees, and she scrabbled for the coffee table before collapsing to the floor. Beth leaped to her feet and rushed over to catch her, as did the other woman on the couch. "Janine...Janine, let's go together," Amelia begged, half-choking. "My Carlo and your Brian, we'll find them for sure. We'll bring them back home. We -"She broke off and fell

The horrific bruise around Janine's throat had almost disappeared hours later, her werewolf healing making the injury disappear as if it had never been there. Beth hadn't left her side since the last words she had uttered in that broken, rasping voice, and now the woman was sitting up in bed, hands clasped over the sheets. There were things she wanted to say. Of that, Beth had no doubt. She just had to wait for her to speak."Brian and I were arranged to be married too, like you and Warren," said Janine. Her voice was clear again, but there was still a crumbling weakness underneath each word that almost made her sound as if she were choking on a noose even now. "And I was like you in the beginning," she continued. "I'd heard so many things about the Heether pack. Brutish. Savage. Terrible men who clawed their way to the top by fighting and killing everyone who got in their way. My family was at odds with them since it's full of envious, vindictive people...people I thought were good a

Beth didn't recognize this voice, but there was only one man it could belong to. The final guest she had been waiting for had arrived at last."You must be Mr. Ad-""Just Adrian, please." The elderly man extended a graceful hand, and she shook it with a smile. "I didn't expect to discover that the Elizabeth Heether who wrote me that masterfully composed letter could be such a young lady. I saw you earlier but wandered until I found someone who assured me you are the lady indeed. I apologize for my tardiness."He was warm, polite, sophisticated. In hindsight, she must have heard something about him before, a scandal that had erupted in the very house of the ruling Silver Nation pack, but all she could remember was a vague mention of a wolf who had gone rogue from the Heether den decades ago. Maybe that was it, and the truth that he had even gone so far as to go to the side of the Gold Nation's ruling pack for years had been omitted from the gossip. Either way, she had taken a risk by

"Luna, I know this is a bad time..."The woman motioned for him to enter her bedroom with a faint smile. She looked even more exhausted than the last time he had seen her, and although that made him feel even guiltier about disturbing her rest, he had no choice. After what he had just seen, it was paramount that the Luna know exactly what her household was up to, especially the young woman she had put in charge in her stead until her health recovered.This was for the good of the pack. He had to let her know.But when he entered the bedroom and closed the door, he turned to discover someone already there at Margaretta's bedside. Wait - he knew who he was! An elderly member of the Heether pack had pointed the man out and grumbled about how it was improper of him to come, regardless of whether he'd been invited. Adrian, the one who had abandoned the pack more than twenty years ago to go to Gold Nation instead. And he was supposed to be family!So what was he doing here in the Luna's com

Beth knew something was off the moment she scented another wolf coming toward her. She had made sure to eliminate as much of her own scent as possible by bathing just before coming into range, and it was still in the dark twilight hours before dawn. She had intended to stake out the place and bide her time, make sure Melinda Troy wasn't as barbaric as her brother before she made a committed approach.But it wasn't to be. Beth had already been discovered - no, someone had been waiting for her.Her heart pounded as she reluctantly met the figure drawing closer and closer across the sprawling glade. There was no way she could back out now anyway. To escape would make her look like she was up to no good, so the best she could do was willingly put down her advantage of initiative and improvise. She didn't know who it was or what they would say when they came to a stop before her, but she would simply have to figure it out. Daniel's life depended on it, and she hadn't come all this way for