Fated to the shadow Alpha

Kennet

. Muscles ached from training, but beneath the exhaustion thrummed something new- somethi

or the past several minutes, but none were needed. He was studying me, calculating my

said, breakin

link. "You don't even know

that m

his lips before vanishing.

st his sharp features. He looked like something carved from the

he question left my lips

rms resting on his knees. "

pping the fabric tightly. "You knew Maddox would come after me. You knew i

before speaking. "Because I kn

s words pressed

lways know

aled, gaze shifting toward the fire. "I suspect

in, the heat, the sheer force of power that had torn through me like

estion came out sof

kering with something unreadable. "

Ande

hed herself harder than any wolf I had ever seen- determi

ed. It wasn't just strength- it was something ancient,

s no ordinary wolf. Maddox knew it

s locked on the horizon. The morning light caught i

oo much," I said,

caped her lips. "

But overthinking wi

t have the luxury of ignor

you d

etween us, thick wi

ermination flashing in her e

ahead of where

ke. My wolf-she's stronger than before. But I do

carefully. "

admitted, frustration

'll sho

nsition between forms. The moment my wolf took o

before, faster, the change less painful. Her wolf-sleek, dark,

bled from my ch

, hesitation flick

your instincts, y

er coiled beneath her mu

she l

sly, knocking her off balance. She recovered quickly, ba

aster this time, ai

parked in my chest

r limits. She was fast-faster than she real

to move, forcing her to react. Stop fighti

something shifted. The energy around her crac

mo

t of me-the next, behind. Her jaws closed around my should

her energy wa

er wolf's instincts. She was b

om my chest, not in war

. Her golden eyes flickered with something prim

ching her closely.

body trembling from exer

k," I

e... I could see the fight before it happened. Like

to fear her. Adele met my gaze, something raw and uncer

"I think you alrea

nding. She wasn't just any wolf. She was something more. Somet

Kennet

something far worse- uncertainty. Wind howled through the clearing, rustling the trees as if the forest itself whispered secrets I wasn't ready t

" My voice was bar

dable, golden eyes assessing

omething beyond my own strength, beyond the instinc

t under

sed to," he said

ing to ease the tens

me." My voice was sharper than I i

line. He was holding back. He kne

y for the truth,

e me. "You don't g

in his gaze pinning me in place. "I

asn't just about me anymore. If I was something more than an

hat I am,"

onto mine. For a moment, I thought he

was low, edged with something like reverenc

still, the air thick with a

a Shad

Ande

she stood there, shoulders squared, eyes burning with a determi

idea what

t

ake entire packs, to send Alphas into a frenzy. It was

d of that before

adn't. Maddox m

ully. "They're more than wolves. Stronger. Fast

, lips pressing toget

always

ped her. "That's wh

he's afrai

, but there was no fear in

o learn what I

ning anymore. It was about control. If she wanted to stand a chanc

. "A sanctuary. Hidden de

furrowed. "W

swe

the key to

Kennet

e between us flickering, castin

ut something else lingered beneath the surface- doubt. If I was this Shadowborn thing, if I had powe

urned, but I d

gaze, steady and unwave

irk crossed his

ge. And I wasn't sure