Rejected by the Alpha, Desired by the King

med of

in patterns across my skin. In the dream, I stood beneath a blood moon, my body shifting, not j

time, it wasn't pain or confusion. It was p

woke, g

of embers. I sat up, heart pounding, my skin

had felt

e hard cot back in the packhouse. My feet touched the stone floor, and I padded silently

d, stronger

ng to us, she whisp

he windowsil

ee. And because h

wait for permission-he entered like he owned t

it," he sa

t wasn't a d

ee something glowing beneath my skin. "You're on the edge

ard. "What do

inary bloodlines. But there are exceptions-hybrids, descendan

re you saying I

" he said, his voice low. "Long ago. In

can return to your pack, broken and forgotten... or you can t

ck, overwhel

is voice was softer. "Because I was like you once-rejec

n King, but as something more. A man who had been through pain. A

training?" I a

. "The kind that breaks you..

-

ain, surrounded by obsidian stone pillars and lit by blue torc

ordered, fol

"I told you-I'v

hat could freeze la

ork like that. I've tried. I've s

epping closer. "Shifting is instinct. Emot

yes turned gold. The same moment, I felt somethi

A

limbs, every bone screaming. My skin pr

ed inside me: Now

screamed-only it wasn't

ped, and the world shatte

o longer standin

our

ing-the whisper of wind in the trees, the heartbeat of

s sh

Lyra-was

nt. Silver fur streaked with blue, eyes glowing like starlight

then leapt high onto a ledge, h

tching with an expre

. Maybe ev

ter, drenched in sweat and s

urmured. "You're something the

myself, heart still thun

"Now, little wolf, you become