Stolen Mate

like skeletal fingers. Rylan sat propped against the rotting wood, sharpen

n bandages, a bruised apple-beside h

ed?" He did

d to pink scars, but his shoulder still stiffened when he moved

dagger glinti

hy

shed bu

rogue. Your busines

eyes unreadable. "You're still

n the bandages. He'd become a habit, t

u care?" I

illed. "You s

ed me six times.

rward, voice lowering. "

d, brushing dirt from my trousers. "R

ara

in his ton

jaw tight. "I didn't c

ed. My pulse qu

red, as if he could still smell it. "Lavender.

my veins.

me. "It led me here. T

er

il

ike a slap. I stu

s my

the wall, the stones biting

I followed it, even when it led me into Nightshade claws. But w

to

ow it's

r-her envy, the stolen vial, her desperation to be chosen. She hadn't

"You felt it too, didn

clawed up my throat. "She too

ed. "You

... this." I gestured to my scentless wrist

gripping my arm. "Y

s I rejected the bond. They hate me. And you-" My vo

felt it the moment I saw her-she's using magic to mimic a connection. But you..." His gaze rake

, as if I could hold the crumbling pieces of my world

ber liquid swirling inside. "Nightshade poison. They used it

h hitche

ow. "She thinks they'll make her a quee

the moonlight. Proof

ng my face. "What do

through the chill. "Help me expose her. Restore y

hy

ds once pulsed. "Because I've been hunted fo

ric. My wolf stirred, a f

ill us," I

edges and defiance.

*

ow echoing in my skul

s woven into every smile. But as I slipped into the stor

lothes, earthy and wild. No

*ali

ground on, oblivious. Lila's laughter rang from the Alpha's lodge, sharp and bright. Kieran's

hel with dried meat and a stolen knife. His movements

to leav

n the doorw

tch there-Morana. If anyone knows h

ickled my spine. "An

ver his shoulder. "The

't even

licing through me. "I k

e tower's chill seeping into my bones. "T

died." His tone softened. "E

o them, I was a

son to be gone. Gathering h

hey bel

er in their eyes. E

*

en patrols shifted. Return before dusk.

e but

ran's cloak draped over her shoulders like

basket. "Meadowsweet. For

ed*. But don't wander too far. The

. I forc

her breath. "You look pale, Elara. Maybe

ound her. "O

*

, hood pulled low. His gaze s

N

ood. Means you

underfoot. Every snap of a twig made me flinch,

know this wi

She trades in se

arm

a bette

idn

aks loomed, their branches clawing at the sky. Rylan nav

n here befo

cking Lila

allowed the question

m. I filled the waterskin while

g watched,"

. "Nigh

wo

an shoved me behind

olted from

d, shaky

e blade, scowl

*

The Whispering Woods lived up to its name-whimp

leaned, its roof sagging under vines. Bones d

a," he

ess, her skin etched with black runes. "Rogue," she raspe

. "We need

-like teeth glintin

d forward. "

ked him. "B

w m

ers. A vi

ch turne

't hesitat

rm. "We don't know wh

free. "We

into the hut. "Come, little

ered, the woods' whisp

m*, my wo

a currency I