FROZEN BONDS: THE HALF-BLOOD'S MATE

lled of pine, blo

around me, casting dancing shadows on the faces of strangers who would soon become my captors. My wedding dress-if you could call it th

f-bl

to my left. I didn't turn to s

ty b

e snakes, wrapping around me, squeezing the air from my lungs. I kept my eyes for

akness. Never

d her to the grave, leaving me alone in a world that saw me as nothing more

parted, an

na

ver Pack. My future

ames, and his golden eyes gleamed with the satisfaction of a predator who had just cornered his prey. He wore no shirt

luid and powerful. When he reached me, he didn't take my hand. He

silencing every whisper, every rustle of leaves

I heard the hesitatio

on is stagnation!" He paced the platform like a caged wolf, feeding off the crowd's energy. "I have brought us a new mar

a

re. Like I was a

But tainted blood can be useful. It can create new warriors. Stronger w

ng in his golden eyes but hunger. Not hunger for me-hunger

you obey me. You will protect her as you protect me. And you will watc

like an animal.

pped closer, so close I could smell the wolf on him-pine and musk and something dark

, and I will drag you back myself. Try to fight, and I will break you

f-that wild, uncontrollable part of me that had gotten me rejected from every pack

, spreading his arms wide. "Tonight, we feast! Tomo

m, a statue in white, while the wolves celebrated their Alpha's latest acq

e long tables laden with food and drink. Most faces wer

ith something I hadn't seen in years: compassion. She stood apart from the others, l

es met, she gave me the slightest nod. Just a small

her any attention-she was invisible to them, just another old she-wolf past her prime. But I watched her caref

ld pressed i

r, its handle wrapped in worn leather. The old woman's eyes met min

un

leaving me standing there with a knife in m

u

art was pounding so hard I thought everyone must hear it. Did she know something? Was she wa

yr

was standing beside me again,

ged to keep m

He didn't wait for my response, simply grab

the knife pressed against my hip like a secret promise.

f-bl

ty b

She can't even

he has no idea

d frightened eyes. She quickly looked away when I glanced a

he know th

a bench. He sat beside me, his massive thigh pressing against mine,

e table. Roasted meat, fresh bread, wild berries. My s

I could take a bite, Ronan's hand shot out

Meat. You'll need your

an released my wrist and watched me eat, his golden eyes never leavi

ected," he said after a lon

ing, just k

g. Too obedient. Too easy." His hand slid from the back of the bench to my shoulder, his finge

ped ch

t," he whispered, leaning close t

for another piece of meat. My hand trembl

ps curled into a cruel smile, and he sat

nk, celebrating their Alpha's new bride. No one looked at me.

essed against my hip, a tiny sp

the old woman again. She sat at the far end of a table, eating al

wh

pulled me to my feet. "Time to rest,

res and the laughter, toward a large structure at

shadows, barely visible, and as I passed, she raised her hand to

moving my head, and she di

room was large, filled with furs and wooden furniture, a massive

here," he sa

od ran

ness. But tomorrow..." He stepped close, towering over me, his hand cu

osing the door behind him. I hear

pulled it out and looked at it in the faint moonlight filtering through a small windo

most of the pack sleeping off the feast. Beyond the structures,

u

's word echoe

I looked at the windo

Tomorrow, I would become his in

u

ightened aro

u

gainst it. Silence. I tested the lock-soli

re I would go. No guarante

hoice. And for the first tim