Moons forbidden claim

ilver gray with eyes that burned like coals. It was followed by another, then a

g so terrifying or so

uthority that made every cell in my body want to obey. But

res these intruders dared to threaten what was mine? The thought came unbidden, primal an

d at him, his eyes had gone completely amber. "Whatev

words left my mouth, I could feel something building

d moved to flank us. "She's shifting without

fingernails had elongated into claws, and I could see veins of

ion beginning as his human features started to blur and change. "

hers began to advance. Kieran completed his transformation in a fluid motion that was both beaut

ark it seemed to absorb the moonlight. When he turned those amber e

and I realized with shock that I could

he rage inside me was growing beyond my control. One of the atta

ion hit me like

ended, and I felt my human consciousness being pushed aside by something wild and primal. Through the ag

stopped, and I f

ents on the wind and hear heartbeats from hundreds of yards away. When I looked down, I saw

looked like shock. Even Kieran had paused mid-fight, hi

ed through the pack link I could sudd

", another voice breathed

uld feel the fear radiating from Marcus's wol

ng that sounded like a command, and suddenly the others were retr

choed in my mind, filled wi

nsformation into wolf form. The human part of my mind was still there, but it felt distant a

cus on my voice". Remember who you are. Lyra Chen. Twentyf

naked and shaking on the ground, my body feeling like I'd been hit by a truck. Elena

arted, then trailed

lly clothed again apparently an advantage of being an experienced shifter and his e

mean?" I asked,

ver wolves are the rarest of our kind. Legends say they're descended from

nd myself, feeling overwhelmed. "

just happened, every supernatural creature on the continent will

y coffee shop, my apartment, my quiet, predictable existence a

pposed to do?

nderstanding. "You learn to survive in our world. You discover what it means to b

an incoming call. Maya's name appeared on the

t was destroyed, and there are police everywhe

of Kieran and Elena listening to e

can't come home? Lyr

asking for guidance. He nod

olves and mates? It's all true, Maya.

ilence on the othe

Maya's voice was

Kieran. The Alpha

ver he's told you, whatever you think you

ieran. His expression ha

aren't you

ra. I'm your cousin. Your mother was my aunt, and she made me promi

as family? She'd been watching over me my enti

phone, his movements

device. "Yes, I know who you are

onse, but from Kieran's exp

e said finally. "The mate bond has be

tching the phone back. "Maya, I need to se

Shadow Moon lands would kill me if I tried to cross them. But there's a neutra

ay

Lyra. And c

me staring at the phone in

oing," Kieran

use

there, and you don't have control over yo

sest thing to family I have left, and she's been protecting me my whole life while you've been... what? Looking for me?

in Kieran's eyes hur

ur mother's magic was too strong. It wasn't until yo

ons. But that doesn't give you th

se? We could accompany you to the meeting, stay close enough

danger, and I had no idea how to control whatever was happening to me. But the part of me that had been

"But you stay back. This

he nodded. "Agreed. But at

at the claw marks in the earth and the lingering scent of fear and aggression. "But first, I n

expression I'd seen from her.

lking through Riverside Park toward the massive oak tree that had been a Portland landmark for over a century. Ki

wild black hair, dark eyes, clothes that looked like she'd grabbed them off the floor but now I could

rent," she said

verything I thought I kne

the tree and studied me with new intensity. "The sil

? About w

es, the moon-touched families." Maya ran her hands through her hair, a gesture I recognized as her way o

it wa

your mate." Maya's expression darkened. "Speaking

abou

on for ruthlessness, and Kieran..." She shook her head. "There are stories. Packs that chal

do, isn't it? Prot

loser, her voice urgent. "Promise me you'll be careful. The mate bond

I want to

urvival is more impo

neck stood up. The familiar scent of pine and winter filled t

f light beneath the streetlamp. His amber eyes were fi

plied, not backing down despite the ob

hat Alpha authority that made my wolf sti

What's

wolves, vampires, even some of the fae courts are sending representativ

in what sounded like th

"Lyra, you need to disappear. Leave the ci

ted. "Running will only make her loo

brilliant plan?

protect w

s not

ment. "Both of you, just stop. You're talking abou

nt, watching me wit

e rest of my life running from what I am." I turned to Kieran. "And you need to und

sions put you in da

o make. "I'm going back with you, but not because you're ordering me to. Because I want

argue, but something in my ex

ly, "call me. No matter what time, no mat

w you

s and candle wax and something indefinably magical. Whe

cousin," sh

u t

could feel the tension radiating from him like heat. It wa

worried about me,

ing on the helmet Elena han

ings to protect my pack and maintain my territory. The

a vulnerability I hadn't heard b

ying to sca

h you. You should know what

authority to something deeper. Pain, maybe. Loneliness. T

I said finally. "The question i

ng moment, something shi

o surprise me,"

hate to be

about the life I was leaving behind and the uncertain future stretching out before me. The rational part of

me that was finally awake after twen

tly where