The Alpha's Forsaken Bride

body ached, not just from the rejection but from the exhaustion of running blindly t

, an aura of raw power surrounding him. Unlike Ryker, who thrived on dominance, Cassi

ce between firelight and shadow. She pulled the fur blanket tighter aroun

A day. You were unconsc

fabric of the blanket. "W

he wood creaking beneath his weight. "And I don'

as something else. The way he studied her, unreadable and intense, m

ade Pack claims the Shadowwood. Most believe

d. "People say your

silver eyes gleamed in the firelig

een whispered about in hushed tones, spoken of like a myth. Ruthless. E

ore she could stop it. "I don't belong a

ingers curling against the armrest o

ords tasting like poison. "And he rej

them. Cassian tilted his head slightly, as if asses

hearing it from someone else made it real. She had spent years believing R

ts. "It doesn't matt

ssian said with

iver down her spine. A promise.

ing, but it wasn't just his physical presence- it was the energy he carried, the quiet storm behind his silver e

e had never needed it more than now, but there was something dang

ned. "What if I d

ou return to Silverclaw, Ryker won't let you walk away a second time. Yo

on itself. Ryker hadn't just abandoned her. He had disca

the blanket, a quiet war raging ins

ng moment, then spoke, his v

ed in her throat. "I

ake sure you

he said it made her

still, the embers in the fireplace glowing faintly. For the first time in wh

, but the rest had done her some good. A tray of food rested on the nearby table-bread, dried

e moment it touched her tongue, she realized how raven

d in the doorway, his presence as i

et, eyeing him warily. "I feel..

th." He stepped aside, motioni

rmth of the cabin, but another part-the part that refuse

wood stretched around her, vast and endless, the towering trees casting long shad

luid and effortless. She followed, her body still s

he rest of

ned. "And if they

something unreadable in his expre

waiting, their eyes sharp and calculating. They were nothing like the Silverclaw wolves-where Ryker's pac

orward, her dark braid swinging ov

"Elena, meet S

k that made Elena feel expose

ut before she could snap a resp

d a brow but

ng from curiosity to skepticism. Elena's fingers tightened at her s

't expect any of you to trust me. But I'm not the w

ed was thick, charged w

the faintest hint of a smir

ead, but one thing was certai

as re