Once Rejected Then Desired

lses at the edge of my senses, silver still burning through parts

s h

na

. Breakable. That's the problem. I'm not supposed to

me like he expects me to shatter. "Where's your first aid

esi

magic is faltering, unraveling at the seams like a threadbare veil. I can feel it. My g

see me

ng to the small linen

his broad back tense, and pulls the kit from the top shel

something he

he's suspected.

to a whisper. "Y

e ice in my throat. "No..." I t

rgotten in his hands, his gaze locked o

rs. His hand reaches out, b

world

ng in m

ng heat through every nerve. My breath hitches. Sweat breaks acr

he mattress, every muscl

Ro

ostrils flaring as his wolf surges

gasping for air. "You kne

s fists clenched at his sides. I can feel his wolf fighting t

aches for me again, And then he stops. Clenc

shaking his head like he can dislo

's too

ght. The way his wolf looks a

alpha wandering throug

my

rue

?" I ask, voice cracking.

bear to look. His shoulders are rigid, b

't w

flashing. "I can't t

t sharper th

"What does

he says, voice har

in the room, like sto

e way his posture changes. The way h

s known what

know what

wolf," I say softly

rse. That authority, that command it

he says, voice like steel.

I whisper, rising s

at doesn't mea

e now, hurting in places

ould you say that?

nd something in

"You're... you're broken. Twisted by magic. I wou

ack like he

e

s deeper than

side me, curling in

y eyes, refusing to let them fall. "You

but the rest of him is stone. "Fo

he turns and wa

back. Not e

leaves behind

ey can hold me together. My wolf howls softly

her reject a bond forged by fate than acce

w. Or maybe I just can'

ce he tore the bond apart with words sharp enough

se sitting alone in my apartment with my wol

, barely alive. My hands tremble when I pour drinks, my vision blurs at the edges.

the third time, she gently guides me to the back booth, her finge

I

the worn leather, and let the numbness settle in.

e he's here un

ci

but not safe. His steps echo like thunder through the s

ath hitche

ms as I try to bury the panic rising in my throat. But my wolf w

ing da

low, rough, like grave

l aching from Ronan's rejection. But Lucian's voice tugs

ze and the moment ou

eels

bond. No

hu

mal awareness that shakes me to my core. Lucian's wolf is on edge too. I see it in the way his j

" he asks, his voice b

words scrape out of me, raw an

something dark passing through the

e I can stop it

ares to the surface, licking at my skin like flames. The air

at him, he

e bond... isn't

ser now, pressing against his control. I

t, I'm not sure i

g else is waki