The Alpha's Curse.

wn barely touched the sky, casting a faint gray glow through the cracks in the boarded-up windows. Sleep had been fleeting, stolen

fe with slow, deliberate strokes. His eyes flicked toward her,

hing stray strands of hair from her face.

one corner of his li

s gaze. "But we need to move soon.

e against his thumb before setti

a chill down her

hing his arms behind his head. "Your father isn't the type to wait ar

sted in her gut. "Th

re's an old hunting trail that leads out of Blackwood territory. If w

aps on her boots and no

le in the underbrush, sent a surge of adrenaline through Alina's veins. Cole led the way, his mo

he held up a hand, s

rough the trees,

She wouldn't

sent a cold spike of fear through her. The voice belonged to Leon

ice barely above a whisper.

. "They'll find u

licked toward a rocky incline a few y

mbing treacherous. Alina dug her fingers into the earth, pushing hersel

l cut throu

ckers had caug

rdered, shovin

. A massive gray beast, its snarling maw dripping with anticipation. I

uld be

d tore at her clothes, branches slashing against her arms as

churning, icy rush of water cut

le said witho

to a halt. "Th

here is

ounding against the

her hand a

swallowed

rld became a blur of movement-water rushing, limbs flailing, Cole's grip tightening around her wrist. She

d the shore. Her body crashed onto solid ground,

hest heaving. "That-" he inh

between ragged brea

. "But we'

rly morning chill seeping into her bones. Cole led her to a hollowed-ou

mth, teeth chattering. "How l

ulling it back over his head. "They won't cross the r

d hair. "We need a real plan. Run

tree, watching her caref

ettled in her chest. "We don

fted. "Figh

to be a pawn, but he underestimates how much support I have in the pac

a long moment, then n

od law states an heir can challenge an Alpha's

"And you think your fathe

di

to be a caged

nd a chance," she said. "And you..." she hesitated, then met his

unreadable flickered in his e

e countered. "I

n the air. Finally, Cole exhaled, shaking his h

at her lips.

his face. "Hell, why not? Let's b

ut running anymore. It was about reclaiming everythin