The Alpha's Forbidden Mate: A Heart Shattered

na

want to keep your precious Col

of thundering knocks that rattled the cheap wood of my bedroom door. I groaned, pulling the comforter over my head to

had already do

ol

gentle she-wolf I called Moonlight, perked up at the thought of

wake. I

cool morning air hit my bare arms, and I glanced down at my faded slee

on his lips. He was already in his Nightshade Pack training gear, the dark gray fabric stretching across a frame that seemed to get broader and more sol

across my chest. A blush was already creeping up my

He held out a steaming mug of coffee. "Othe

y cold fingers and melting some of my irritation. "You're j

rded expression I knew all too well. "I'm just doing my job

talking about rogue wolves or rival packs. He was talking about

le and me from last summer's pack picnic. His arm was slung around my shoulders, and he was laughing, his head thrown back. The sun caught the highlights in

ve that swelled in my chest was a powerful tide, strong e

way, softer now. He'd seen where I was looking. He

ainst my face, a welcome shock that helped to clear my head. In the mirror, my reflection looked tired

y teeth with vigor, my mind already racing, planning my d

s and old pack t-shirts until my fingers found it-a simple, pale blue

ark hair and gave myself a final, hopeful smile in the

stood at the stove, humming a soft tune. Silas was already at the small kitchen table, hi

y tool for pack warriors, but to a werewolf, the metal hummed with a

bed a piece of toast, chewing it with an ex

ernoon," Silas said, not looking up from his da

torted playfully, trying to lighten the mo

yes, so much more serious than my own, met mine. They were fill

ne else to protect you, Ilana,"

intensified, sharpened by my brother's grim mood. I pulled out my phone, the screen lighting up with a picture of Cole an

ea sparked in my mind

text him. I'd gi

, chasing away all the morning's gloom