Under the second moon

s and my first howl

meant to scream. But my w

hundreds of wolves answering. Outside, six other Alphas howled lo

o hearts - co

m, stood barefoot on cold stone in his huge shi

and rose higher until it wasn't sound, it was blue light pouring from throat. Light hit s

in Blacktho

rom six outs

lence, like moun

'd been shouting orders. Amber eyes wide

just do?" Ka

glowed brighter, bite

red, voice double, girl

First in thousand years. No first moon wolf

teps. Hundreds running

rs because shirt barely covered m

a and Gammas, half-shifted, claws out, eyes black. Then they s

d warriors in north -

manded. Because w

pered, head bowed. "

irl he carried from fore

e low, possessive. "Now. No

ut, still kneeli

oor, locked it

t miles. You told every pack in Northern Territories that second moon Queen

wolf speaking.

wo hearts for hour and already

understand. Mother said cursed. Village said tainted.

ed me to broken window. Co

k do

wolves, men, women, staring up at tow

. Blue eyes don't belong to first moon wolves either. We have amber, gold, black, green. Never blue. Blue was hunted ou

hey sc

they worship you. Both. That

- lifted baby toward my window,

ped back. "Wha

Queens were said to bless pups, make strong

know how

id. "Starting now. Because six

ling. One long mournful howl, six voices together, calling

r

gh not words. M

arts p

ow," I whispered. "T

er Blackthorn protection, they think I killed you and attack tonight. My

risoner. As Queen. Must show you choose. If you look pr

wall in my shirt with broken windows and ba

," I said, k

. Made five best warriors kneel without word. Still glowing. No control

m kneel," I sai

kneel any of them. You are in my t

e," I correcte

ying beautiful.

st, threw open, pulled som

ul. Black leather and dark blue silk, embroidered silver thre

gave it when claimed her. She never wore it for ceremony becau

give

you wearing my shirt that smells like me. Need to look

Alpha. Queen needs to dress. You need warrio

eyes held his. He nodded s

rt, and I saw myself in c

ist, blue sheen. Skin paler, glowing faintly. Neck - bite no longer small crescent. Bigger, intricate,

uman. Wolf beaut

over head. It fit perfectly, like made for me. Leather hugg

irst Queen looke

I was there when they killed he

"Thousan

teeth. "Second moon wolves live lon

l banged door. "They are at

stopped, th

s. At gat

nt to kneel. Keep hidden. Trust no Alpha fully, even Kael,

f made low possessive sound that vibrated through stone floor and made my two

ispered, touching glowing cheek. "But the

How could he? I

meet brothers. And try not to start

k, toward huge black gates shaking with six fists banging, six Alp

second heart. Kael's mother's dress smelled faintly of old roses and human warmth, strange among pine and wolf scent,

listening to six heartbeats beyond wall that beat in same broken r

ws. My second would break