f my heart in my ears. Everything was sluggish, my body wrapped in a blanket of numbn

r wall. Shadows danced across the stone, flickering with each pop of the firewood

e panic from rising, low and thick in my chest. I sat up slowly, groaning as pain radiated from my h

ath hi

nches, the snarl of beasts. The red-eyed wolf. Damian's voice, slici

ll find the imprint of whoever had knocked me out. M

s standing in the doorway, a tray in her hands. She looked tired, her usual sleek ponytail now sligh

ared at her, not moving a muscle. She walked in carefully, her steps meas

small table near the bed. My gaze moved to the tray to see a b

t?" My voice came

t me. "A few hours.

my legs off the side of the bed, ignoring

h wing. It's one of

scoffed. "Locked in and unconscious?

barely. "You shouldn'

oldly. I know I'm being bitchy at this poi

understand

on the edge of the bed. "You think I care about your damn rules? Your traditions? I was taken from my life.

't meant to

orest like prey," I snarled.

only thing that could be heard was the crackling fire. Outside,

me, really looked at me. "You don

the fated ma

soft but firm. "You're not just any

normal girl who worked a dead-end job and drank too much wine with h

she said. "That ma

y. "Yeah, it make

ogether. "Eat something.

want yo

then, you can starve." The door closed

d still throbbed, but I couldn't sit still. Not when every inch of me screamed for a way out. The wind

truly

The fire had died down, casting the room into dim, amber shad

. His dark eyes flicked across me, and I stood my ground, refusing to shrink away. He wasn't in a suit tonight. He wore a black swe

ehind him and said,

to you,"

h his nose. "You

oo

rward. "You could've

uld've been be

ds the second you arrived here. The wolves were tr

t me think I had a shot and th

re to bring yo

d me like I

ere ru

him. "You'

I've done what I mu

y keeping me caged like a possession?" My voice broke, and I hated it

'm not obsessed with yo

and humorless. "C

. He didn't touch me, just stood there, a few feet away, looking at me

snap into place and realize your entire world has shifted. You fee

nderstand you

rstand me, Evelyn. But you will learn that

ed hard.

mething on the small table beside the tray. It looked like a worn

lege. I was laughing, holding a sparkler. Layla was beside me in the b

e." It wasn't a question, but his silence was the only confirmation I needed. I

remain here. Whether you like it or not." His voice w

le, choking sound clawed its way o

then paused at the door. "Rest. You'll need it." With tha

n the dark, staring at the photo he'd left