Bound to the Beast

hing had shifted between Rhea and Xander. She wasn't sure how to feel about what had happened under the full moon, about the bond that ha

Xander. Every time she caught sight of him, her heart beat faster, and she felt a tightness in her chest.

Their whispers, the glances, the way they deferred to her in silence-it all grated on her nerves. But the thing

cold morning when

the shift in the air. The pack's chatter grew louder, hushed whispers filling the s

members murmured. "Maera's back.

roze.

o had been promised to him before fate

ect future Luna, poised, beautiful, and destined for greatness alongside Xander. But something had torn them apart. Rhea didn't know

a river of sunlight, her eyes a piercing, icy blue. She moved with an elegance that could only belong to a highborn lady.

ded on Xander. The heat in her gaze softened only slightly,

voice dripping with sweetnes

era spoke to him, the way her voice was laced with an old familiari

rolled, but there was an underlying wa

here to reclaim what's mine, of course." She flicked a dismissive

ot caring about the sharpness in her voice. "You

old gaze back to Rhea. "You're not worthy of

hest tightened, her breath coming faster as fury built up inside her. How dare she-

tep forward, her fists clenched tightly at h

grip her arm, his voice low and dangerous.

and furious. "You left him. You abandoned him. And now y

. "But I see you've already claimed your little spot as his Luna." She sneered again.

words dug under her skin. "I'm not a distraction," she spat. "And I'l

painful motion. Rhea gasped, her head snapping back, but before she coul

olden eyes flashing with a

stakable, but Maera stood her gro

ered. "She's a murderer's whore. She'll always be that, no

t she held back. She would not let

ook a step forward, his eyes blazing wi

you're wrong. Rhea is my mate. And no

ce ringing out for all to hear. "Rhea is m

e simple, but the weight of them crushed h

ith one last glare at Rhea, she turned on her heel and sto

nst her cheek, where Maera's nails had left their mark. His

er whispered, his voice qui

inside her. Her feelings for Xander were tangled, the bond pulli

r chest. Xander's claim was final, but it felt like a double-edged sword. Would