Chapter Twenty-five (Dane’s POV) Decades before…

I fought hard at the natural instinct of my beast. The scent of blood and flesh was not helping and in the middle of it all, I could distinguish Saraya's scent. Her soft floral fragrance was the only thing distracting me from completely embracing my animal side. Using it as my anchor, I clung to it and turned away from the sight of humans. Then I saw a burnt and headless corpse of a figure in crimson attire alongside the dead bodies of a lot of werewolves. It was quite easy to note which was her kill and which was mine. She watched me cautiously and I shut my eyes in my last attempt to contain my beast but I couldn't. Letting out a loud growl, I found myself moving to go to her. The urge to be close was overwhelming. Getting to her, I scooped her up and buried my nose in the nook of her neck, drawing in her scent like a starved freak.

"D--Dane?" she called softly, gently smoothing back my hair. She was shaking with fear.

"Don't be scared of me," I growled barely audibly. She wrapp