A few hours before Kevin returned to Jordan with Rain’s phoneTatiana had been so insistent that I should be patrolling the border—which I already do every single night—that I ended up running along trees and thickets that mark the end of my territory for almost twelve hours now. Usually, I would be exhausted by now, but the potions Tatiana gave me not long ago helped me sleep a few hours during the night. I forgot when I last felt so rested.I let Raven take control for a while, and I enjoy seeing the world through his eyes. His senses and night vision are much stronger than mine, and even without the light coming from the moon, he would still be able to see perfectly.Normally, Andrew, my ex, would accompany me during the patrol, but since he found his mate, I am alone. I should get used to it because I don’t plan to let another male into my life only to have my heart broken again. Conon and Conrad have tried to set me up with several single males from the pack, but I am done with d

An IV is connected to Red’s left arm, a transparent liquid slowly flowing into her body. She is wearing one of those medical gowns that cover almost nothing, a blanket draped over her legs. Next to the bed is an Ekg heart monitor, her heartbeats showing on the screen. Her eyes are closed, and she appears to be sleeping, her breathing even. “How is she?” I ask Hector, careful to keep my voice low, not wanting to wake her up. “She is lucky you found her in time.” Sensing that’s not what I want to know, Hector adds quickly, “The stab wounds were not deep enough to affect any vital organs, and she has no internal bleeding. I gave her two shots to speed up her healing, but even so, it might take a while. As for her rape, from what I could scent, only one male was involved.” I nod, Hector confirming my suspicions. “If you don’t mind, I will stay with her. You know that the nightmares will start soon.” Hector glances at Red. “Are you sure? She will most likely be scared of being alone in

The never-ending pain in my chest prevents me from thinking or breathing or… functioning. I want this agony to end. I want to close my eyes forever. I want for one moment to forget what he had done to me. Each night, I relive the moment Jordan rejected me. My pleas to be heard are never listened to. Jordan always turns his back on me, leaving me alone in the shadows, where the monsters lurk.I step inside the shower and turn on the cold water. I feel so dirty…. The scent of the guards still clings to my skin, and I want—need—to remove it. Grabbing the soap, I start to wash myself, scrubbing my body hard to the point of pain. But no matter how much soap or water I use, I can still scent them… and it makes me gag.I close my eyes and slide down along the cold tiled wall until I am crouched down, and I hug my legs with my arms, letting the water—now freezing—cascade down my back.I see him on top of me, his weight pinning me to the ground, the guards hitting me as he…. Then that white wo

The Main House—as Caleb calls it—is quiet. Maybe the pack members are at the picnic Caleb mentioned, and I don’t have to meet anyone new. Tomorrow, if I am less tired, I might consider it, but for now, Caleb is more than enough. Even talking to him becomes tedious. We make it to the kitchen without bumping into anyone. Inside, a male—probably Blade—is singing. While I am not good with music, I am sure he missed more than a few notes. Caleb brings his index finger to his mouth—I think. Understanding what he means, I nod, and Caleb slowly opens the door to the kitchen, and after a quick peek, he tiptoes inside. From the doorframe, I watch how Caleb goes to the freezer and opens it. Blade, who has his back to us, is washing some dishes and singing from the top of his lungs. I am surprised Blade hadn’t caught Caleb’s scent. Caleb turns to me, and after pointing to the sink, he makes his way there. I am waiting to see what Caleb is up to when he suddenly snatches two spoons put to dry,

He was supposed to be a product of my imagination! Maybe this entire clearing is a product of my imagination.Wanting to be sure what I see is real, I slowly approach the wolf, not wanting to wake him up. But what if I am wrong and it is not the wolf from my dreams, and he is going to sense and… and… hurt me?I freeze. For a moment, I don’t even dare to breathe.But white wolves are supposed to be good. At least, that’s what the legends say.Biting my bottom lip, I take another step, and then another, and another, until I reach him. I crouch in front of him and reach out my hand, and I brush the tip of my fingers over the top of his snow-white fur.Warmth like I have never felt before spreads inside me, and sparks dance across my skin. Safia—who had been grief-stricken from the moment Jordan has rejected me—not only reacts for the first time in weeks, but I can feel a beam of happiness coming from her.I am trying to understand all the sudden feelings and Safia’s reaction when the wol