Bound to her destined alpha

tangled in memory and something else he couldn't name. It was her. He was sure of it. The way his wolf reacted was not something he coul

t

ld she

All they found was blood on the rocks and her cloak snagged in a branch, torn and soaked through. He had made his peace with the ide

he was

d been

k to his chamber, locking the door b

corridor, hidden in the narrow space behind a suit of a

been r

if drawn by a magnetic thread she couldn't cut. Seeing him again after so long had shaken som

nt of his skin, the intensity of his eyes, the sheer presenc

eren't weak. You startled him.

ugh her nose. She hadn't been discovered

e would be

need to

reful t

to her post in the infirmary just before dawn. Irena, the head healer, was none the wiser about

expertly sorted the herbs. "Most girls f

polite smile. "I

got a steadiness t

jar of dried marigold. "M

cour

hat kind of lea

ing Clara carefully

came from a pack where the Alpha ruled with brutali

complicated. The pack thrives under him. Trade is strong, r

happ

s ago. She was from the lower ranks. Not even a proper wolf

heart

ged after that. Grew colder. Less forgiving. He's never taken a Luna

her gaze. "S

Irena said, "ne

rol routes. Or the recent report from the southern border. It was still on

nd the estate, under the guise of a rogue thr

d answer

eded

room was dim, the air stale with the scent of parchment and dust. Shelves str

entry from fi

Body unrecovere

n hand

se words. Remembered the way his hand shook as he did it. Remembered thin

no

the ledger and shove

lves. Her cloak was pulled low, her hood casting shadows across her face. A

ld said, peering up at

softly. "No

"You smell like

a bl

r name?" th

eplied smoothly

says I have a nose like a wolf.

id, then gently patted th

igure watching her f

n by a rooftop shade, arms crossed, gaze locked on th

the warriors who passed seemed to glance twice. There was som

owed hi

t coiled low

uldn'

d to

rvant wing, a narrow room with a small bed and a cracked mirror nai

recognized her

irl with hollow chee

harper angles, glowing eyes, and

t carved from bone, given to her by the Black Thorn Elders. A c

he whispered.

the footsteps

all. He had narrowed her scent to this area. Subtle as it was, it gr

irred benea

sed hi

knoc

Clara st

slow k

the way his knuckles soun

" she asked

r Al

ood ra

ason you're ou

als," he said. "Especially tho

im still dressed in black, his expressio

Lena,

a," she sa

. "Where did you s

e replied. "An

tepped closer, just enough to lean i

in pri

nd his expre

tion fl

a smiled faintly. "You don't tr

mouth ti

hat's why so many d

ed. "Be careful

head. "Of co

he door in

there,

art po

touched the wood, then

aned against the door

played w

wasn't

anym

her in the eyes and didn't even recog

she still had