The Forest Pact
ell beneath the horizon, the golden tones of
er boots crinkling softl
with everything he
member of the wolf
tened her, but it only fueled s
the entire forest on his wide shoulders, wa
e darkness was filled wit
ed in the distance, and the dist
e never had before, as though she were walking into a
" she finally asked,
lder, his golden eyes glowi
e safe,"
een saying that since we left the
g to face her. His expression
hem," h
owned. "T
he pack. Others. Rogues who
racted to y
inquired, her
ng. "Humans. don't belong here.
a signal
d with a chill. "So, w
ence was en
oner," Aurora grumbled, at
e replied, voice low. "A
to mean s
and trailed after him as
ped a beat whenever his eyes locked with hers or the way his nearness made her
owering pines. In the middle of the grove was a c
e chimney, and the smell of
e?" Aurora said, lookin
s said, opening the
rde
k to allow her entry. Auror
with a modest fireplace, woode
binets were stocked full of jars conta
stuff too?" she asked, trying to
of humor she'd ever seen from him
ty overwhelming her. "So, are you going to tell me what'
, his golden eyes fixed on he
she replied, h
rated breath, smoot
orest
ny map, any
area where the natura
-has guarded it
h excitement as she listene
d it fr
b the balance," Silas said. "Hum
t has its own rules, its own ma
is disturbing it,
nd to, but yes. Your presence
se it, and they'll
et them find me? If I'm such an issue,
hought for an instant that she
," he said. "You care for
re she could protest, a deep gro
t increased in intensity
"Stay put," he barked,
, her heart racing. "You can'
s golden eyes aflame. "
ut
e growled, rem
ain, Silas went out the door,
ed for an instant
ing in her chest, she took the flare g
was alive w
s, their forms too fast and too
reatures with burning red eyes, thei
of the grove, his prese
th tension, and Aurora gazed at
ripple along his skin, a
running motio
muscles curling as hard f
unleashed a bone-shuddering howl, Auro
gues a
ing with a speed and power
ements graceful yet brutal. But the rogues
ound the flare gun as s
ain concealed, but she couldn't
t one of the rogues moving towar
he air, hitting the out
before crumpling to the grou
d over his shoulder
ker on his face-like anger-but then hi
bellowed, his voice
art raced with adrenaline as
d the silver glow of the moonlight. In the midst of the turmoil, Aurora felt an
egrating into the ground like the
the grove, his chest pumpin
human form, his golden ey
king hands outstretched. "Are you all right?
"You shouldn't have come out," he said, though
said, her eyes scanning his. "You
irst time, he smiled all the way. "Y
flushed, but s
ore than I ev
here for a moment, the
ved closer, her heart racing as s
d, he leaned into her touch, h
ide," he said softly, h
d, but she d
ween them, something she
one thing for sure: her bond with Silas