Ryan's POV            Alyson still slept beside me; her beautiful face was peaceful in the morning light. I dared not wake her. I knew that she wanted to come with me, but it would be far too dangerous. It was possible that Jacob would send wolves to intercept and kill me before I arrived. I would have to travel quickly and carefully, and it was better if I were alone.            I could not risk anything happening to her, I could not bear it. I was touched when she opened up last night, even though she didn't tell me any specific people, I knew that if I were to gain power in Crowalt, I could help her with her revenge. It was important.            And maybe once the revenge was behind her and settled, she would agree to be my mate.  Maybe she could smell it as sure as

        I was sobbing uncontrollably when I ran back into the cabin. I would grab a few items, and then I would follow Ryan.         My bleeding hand from grabbing the necklace too tight stung as I wiped the tears from my eyes. Even when I was bleeding, Ryan had not come back. He must be so far from me; how far could he be? The sooner I left, the sooner I could catch up to him.         Dylan must have heard me. He was knocking at my door, "Alyson! Are you ok?"         I was not ok, and I didn't want to talk to him. He couldn't possibly understand.         He was still knocking as I was trying to pack one more dress in a pack that I could carry even as a wolf.         I put

Ryan's POV         I had traveled for days, making time to rest so that I wouldn't be in terrible shape by the time I arrived at Crowalt. They should expect me with their predictions of the future, and I was sending mental images towards my father so that he'd know my return.         I considered sending something to Alyson, but I decided it might only encourage her to leave Dylan's protection, so I ultimately left her in the dark.         I also knew that Jacob would know, with my messaging and his level of powers, he could persuade others that I was not coming, and try to take care of me unofficially. I was on high alert at every moment once I crossed onto Crowalt territory.         I sensed that Alyson had been terribly upset, but Dylan had persuaded her as we

Alyson's POV         I was enjoying my time with the Harris family. Lilla invited Michelle and I every afternoon for tea, and Dylan joined us for dinner. They were a merry bunch with lots of jokes and laughter, they included their servants in the teasing, and even the more submissive servants seemed to be treated well enough that they also joked with them.         I made sure to send money that settled Michelle's debts for her brother's doctors. Having her company really settled my anxieties since I was away from Ryan, even having her sleep in my room so that I was never alone with my thoughts and worries about him.         Dylan knocked on my door one day, and I answered. Michelle was there, learning how to sew as Lilla had instructed. She was practicing, but I also knew she was listening.  

Alyson's POV         Michelle and I were sitting together in the stadium on the day of the games. We had gotten there early and the audience was rolling in. I couldn't stand it any longer, I had to be there, as close to Ryan as I'd been since he left me. I was fraught with anxieties, unable to smell him. There were too many smells here, and I wasn't sure where he'd be.  But Crowalt was a large pack, and I dared not go wandering around where the Alexanders lived- as a Clan Clark she-wolf, I would stand out, and they might ask who I was mated to, opening me to danger. Making my nervousness worse, there were so many faces that I recognized who even looked right at my face but said nothing. It seemed that my new face was enough to fool most anyone, and I hoped that it would fool Jennifer. Her knowing me before I was ready to take revenge was my greatest concern. At least, she'd seen me