Eclipse Of The Fated Mate

rtains like a blade. I lay still, listening to Xander's ragged breaths beside me. Even

tched, legs thrashing as if running from something unseen. *The night

eartbeat, he stared at me-*really* stared-like he used to before th

rled, recoiling

s rejection familiar now. "You were dr

ened. "And yo

aw at him, three years pretending not to notice how he blamed me for ghosts I didn't create. But arguing

s broad shoulders blocking the mo

a transaction-peace for his Red Moon Pack, power for my father's crumbling Shining Pack. I'd belie

silence. He grabbed it, his voice softening in a

ways required *his* comfort, *his* arms around her instead of mine. I dug my nail

ng on a shirt.

pped out before I cou

is shoulder. "You don't ge

or sla

nd smoke clung to the sheets-a cruel reminder of the man he'd been before the anger. T

ctor's warning echoed in my head: *"The blood donations are draining you. Your wolf can't heal this."* But Xander insisted Lillian n

hollow cheeks, eyes too big for her face. The lively she-wolf who'd once challenged Xander to

tons. The packhouse was quiet, the usual bustle of warriors and Omegas muted. They all

hrough the door. "-track the rogues near the eastern

ways protecting

id voice snapped me bac

ot hun

ney-drenched pastries-his favorite. "

kered. *He as

ing. I followed her, each s

an perched beside his chair, her golden hair spilling over her shoulder

't look at

e chair scra

perfume cloying. "Xander thinks it's time

3a: *The donor (Selina Shining) will provide monthly tran

"I can't. Not again

"You think I care what some q

my mate? For clawing her way int

he's just scared." Her voice dripped faux s

om tilting. "I

ould blink, gripping my wris

p loosened-just enough-and I yanked free, stu

ice wavered, alm

red, clutching her ches

an instant, cradling

fl

This wasn't a life-this slow unraveling, this death by a thousand cuts. But w

d. I whirled,

ression unreadable. "You sh

the sound brittle. "

ser. "Afraid y

cient. For a heartbeat, I let myself imagine it-his hands gent

narrowed. "You

fin

me, but I backe

ckered in his gaze. Or

ck," he sa

s around myself.

ched, thick with

Lillian's name fla

ing away withou

t ends,* I thought. Not in battle, not in glory. In the d

park in my chest. A wolf's

was a ghost. Maybe I was broken. But I'd

rds haunted me. *"Yo

, I'd go

, I'd s