The Mating Bond

-

d like a shadow as he grabbed a dark shirt off the chair and yanked it over hi

remaine

girl... or t

ed in her head

ike that?" she asked quietl

the door-his Beta, Elysia assumed. The resemblance was only in energ

er. Double patrols. No one gets in or o

d on Elysia for a beat too long. N

irl, isn't s

a sti

ped an octave. "N

ppearing down the hall with the same de

ce her fully. His expression was unreadable

pened before I found you in that

s walking home from the bookstore. I t

ore

d. "What d

? Did you feel... strange? Like so

e for months. Dreams, headaches. Bu

oser. "What k

. Calling to me. Sometimes... there's blood. Fire. A

"You've been marke

r voice crac

. "By whoever's trying t

's hea

o fists at his sides. "There are packs who would do anyt

y n

use the curse is weakening. I can

him. "What d

Elysia. True mates-fated bonds-are even rarer. But a mate who can change fate? Who can shatter a

aught. "I'm none

id. "You just do

ed again, gen

stepped inside. Her presence was calm, but

ing her head slightly. "I th

st time she was still wearing the bloodied

said. "Liora, t

ack of clean clothes-leggings, a long sweater, a

g the clothes to her chest as she

eaned against it, finally

was i

tten threats. And now she was apparentl

to her temples. The ro

ce stared back at her, lips slightly parted, eyes wide. She barely recognized herself. Her skin

ot full

ed as she stepped

in hushed tones near the fire

gentle smile. "Y

trand of hair behind her ea

can rest here tonight. I'll

er out of my sight

row. "She's not

ine. And someone threatened

that word-mine. It was primal. Pos

"He means well. Even if

all smile. "I'm sta

ed his attention to her, p

ow you someth

thout question, dee

walls and flickering torches-too medieval for her co

ded by two massive wolves-real wolve

them, and the

d the ir

floor stained. On the wall, scrawled i

e girl or th

beneath it that ma

ved deep int

moons surroundi

"This mark belongs t

d ran cold. "

tists. They believe mating bonds are curses. They kil

t. "You're saying they w

nd they won't stop u

m the sigil, her heart

omething fierce burni

id, "we prep

nd, a distant howl ech

e, it wasn't

om within

ed. "They