Stolen Mate

gray tunic-plain, unadorned, meant to blend into the shadows. My skin felt foreign, as if the potion had hollowed me out, leaving

d from the square, br

flames licking at the dawn-chilled air. Garlands of ivy and wolfsbane draped the Alpha's lodge, and the scent

encing the crowd. "The Moon Goddess smile

eyes scanning the pack. My breath caught. For a heartbeat, his gaze lingered near my hiding spot

slid past m

the center, her auburn hair braided with crimson ribbons, her borrowed lavender scent swirling around h

, his head snapp

into a flawless bow. "The Go

he stolen fragrance. His hand hovered near her

ocence. "A gift from

to scream, to accuse, but no sound came. What proof did

ers relaxed. "I

r Taryn intoned, her mil

eps heavy, but his gaze kept returning to Lila. To *m

begged. *Run. Bite.

alyzed, a ghost

d before Lila, th

rowled, low

-a perfect mimic of s

, pulling her again

ant glance sliced toward me as Kieran lifted her hand, their f

hed, replaced by a cold that gnawed bone-deep. My legs moved withou

llowed the noise and my knees gave out. Dry heaves wracked me, thoug

. Naive

didn't even want him!* But I had-gods, I had-in secret,

napped b

ara

n's v

ee line, backlit by distant firelight, Lila's scent st

ere?" he

my br

ply, then frow

ved through

ppearing into t

The earth didn't answer. The moon didn't

it until dawn to d

od. A warning. I traced them with trembling fingers, the splinters biting my s

eyes on the ground. My hands still worked

did

way, arms crossed. "W

eed refilling," I said

ling it." Sh

never stitched a wou

ists, where scent glands once p

asket slipping from my grip. Jars shattered,

hut th

*

hewing stale bread, when a

" A chil

is tiny fangs. His mother yanked him away,

rned to ash

*

, gathering firewood

ce dripped honey

wallowing her frame-and reeked of my

muttered, sta

knife-sharp. "You look

until the bark bit.

ldflower, twirling it. "Without yo

ed through me.

ind out,"

ng our mating feast." She leaned in, her breath hot.

unged, but she caught

ed. "No one believe

. I stumbled, root

"The Alpha needs the infirmary cleared. You'll sl

*

om, my only light a sliver of moon through a cracked window. My cot was a threadbar

th

thi

aw and guttural. Th

*

blu

ires, shoulders burning. Ate scraps tossed outside the kitchen. The pack's eyes foll

t, I he

's growl, low and warm. Sounds that once

*

t was th

fierce, beautiful chorus. I hid in the storeroom, hands clamped over my e

ght, I

ited, Lila at Kieran's side, his arm draped around her. Her howl rose firs

opened my mouth,

ipped my

d arm had healed. "Y

. "Where else

ed to catch my scent. Found nothing. "Yo

on choked me

back, lip curled. "A t

crowd, leaving me

*

ruelest blows fo

n's mark now a crescent on her neck. "The Al

our servan

ked. "Ar

. Kieran barely glanced up, his focus on Lila's every

ashed hi

ila sighed.

g the stain. "

eyes. For a heartbeat, somethin

," he

aughter chasing

*

found the la

rmary door, dried but still

ifted it to my nose, the faintest whi

sts cou

as done