~ CARA ~ Nothing seemed real. I stood just inside the door at Rig’s house, Rig right behind me, his warmth pressed against my shoulder. Mack was standing in the doorway into the kitchen, talking to Rig. Jack and Charlie had arrived right behind us. Apparently Natalie was on her way. I stood there, uncertain what to say. When Charlie edged past me, I flinched. Rig’s hand appeared on my arm and he leaned into my ear. “You’re safe here.” 

~ CARA ~ Rig cleared his throat and I waited, holding my breath. “I’ll explain better later, but just think of… an old-boys system. The guys in power do everything they can to keep their power—they hold prejudice against anyone different, they exploit weaker wolves, they use their strength to hurt or even kill anyone who stands against them. It’s all about power-plays and—” “And won’t they do that to you, then?!” I asked, suddenly panicked. I hadn’t realized I’d grabbed his arm, until he turned his hand and entwined our fingers.&nb

~ RIG ~ Natalie and Mack glared at each other, while Jack watched them like a tennis match, waiting to see who’d serve the ball next. Charlie shifted in his seat and glanced at me. ‘Do you want me to handle this?’ I shook my head. I was about to open my mouth and order them both to calm down, when Cara leaned forward. “It’s so weird now, finally understanding what keeps you all close to each other. I mean, I’ve always seen that, you know? How tight-knit you are. You

~ CARA ~ Rig blew out a breath like a balloon that had been deflated and he raked a hand through his hair. “You scared me,” he murmured, then took a deep breath, holding my gaze. “We do have a power… it’s called the Allure. But you need to know, Cara, I never used it on you after that first day. Even before I knew who you were… what you were going to be to me… I wasn’t using it. Mack was, the fucker. But I wasn’t. The draw… that tugging inside, I feel it too. It’s the matebond.” A shadow passed behind his eyes, but then he offered his hand, much like he had back in the forest, palm up. “I’m telling you the truth. Touch me. Feel me. Feel how our bodies pull for each other. That draw we’re feeling, it’s never going to go away. That’s not the Allure. That’

~ RIG ~ I woke later with the morning sun bright in the window where I’d forgotten to pull the blinds. For half a breath I was only aware of being warm and feeling… happy. But then I blinked. The rumble in my ear that had sent me to sleep was now silent, but the warm bundle of fur and spit still nestled against my shoulder. More importantly, though, the curvy, warm body of my mate was still tangled with mine. Relief. Joy and relie