While Alex is resting, Rita asks me to walk with her to exercise her leg. I know it is already healed, and assume it is because she anticipates needing to run on it soon.As long as we can get Alex up and moving; she may be better, but now he’s sick.Others are milling around the pack. I haven’t met anyone else yet, and they’re all curious about me. I catch glances and stares but try to ignore them. After all, I’ve been getting unwanted attention my whole life.Rita waits for a few moments before speaking. “They all want to know why you’re here.”“Me too.”Rita’s gaze is fixed straight ahead, but she can sense my trepidation. “You’re here because Alex put you in danger. It’s as simple as that.”I don’t reply. I don’t know what to say—and I think I may start crying, I’m just so overwhelmed.“Alex cares for you deeply—he doesn’t exactly hide it.”All I can think to say is, “Sssorry.”“Why? It’s not your fault. We can’t help who we love.”So, she knows??? ‘But you and Alex…”“Don’t want

We shift and make our way northwest toward the mountain. We figure that’s our best bet at finding the encampment, base…whatever it is. If we don’t find anything there, we can work our way back going east.Worst come to worst, we make it home, regroup, and try again tomorrow, but I’m not leaving until we find them. For Michael. For Cynthia.Since we’ve been gone, my body has recovered. Distance must play a part in that. Since Ryan and I can’t link, we can’t talk, and I have the opportunity to think about why I was sick.When I asked Ryan earlier, he said he didn’t know of anyone that could perform the ritual other than maybe an Elder. But who would have done that in my own pack?It could have been done before I left the Ayzena base by any one of the Elders. If it was one of them, my money would be on Owein. He was determined to use Cynthia as bait, and I may have been the only one standing in his way. Physically.But would he really do that to me? I would like to think all our Elders a

After the rogue is so badly damaged that it’s barely breathing, the werewolves shift back to their human form, including Rita.She helps me up as the others stand around the bloodied body of our attacker, their mouths and hands smeared with blood.A couple of them approach to check on me. I don’t know who they are; I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before—but they knew me. One of them, the one with a long beard and haunted eyes, stares at me.It’s unsettling. It reminds me of the way Alex’s mom stares at me. Like he’s looking for something in my face, or rather sees something hidden within it.“My name is Charles,” the one with the beard says, “and these are Oorna, Abner, and Meor. Abner and Meor were on guard tonight, out in the forest. They could smell the intruder and tracked him here.”Rita spits on the ground. Is it odd to think, in this moment, that this is unladylike?“Damn it!” she says. “He’s in rough shape and can’t turn.”She turns to Charles and asks, “Is there somewhere w

You’ll never beat me! Ryan says, and I know he means it.Normally, I would be cautious taking on someone of his stature, but now I’m angry…and angry me doesn’t always make the best choices.I snarl. I want to know why Cynthia.Because she stands in my way… But not like your brother did…Now the beast inside me is just pissed.I spring forward, ready to strike. Ready to kill. I get in a swipe to the left of his jaw, then right, then a mouthful of fur and flesh above Ryans’ shoulder.Except Ryan proves too strong for me, and now that I’m on the offensive, I’ve left myself vulnerable. I realize that as soon as I feel him move.Ryan slings me off, knocking me to the ground, and is on top of me before I can manage to get up, using his body weight to hold me down. I’m able to avoid most of his bites, which come fast and ferociously.I use my hips to roll him and get him to the ground. Then I use the momentum of the motion to roll away, but Ryan is too fast. He gets a grip on my shoulder and

As Ryan stalks toward me, the itch becomes unbearable. My skin feels like it’s been burned and is healing, peeling. I want to scratch at it. I want to scratch it off.The feeling becomes so intense—like my skin is burning from within.Ryan stops and watches, his grin apparent. He starts pacing from one side to the other. I don’t understand what he’s doing, but it’s so hard to think right now. I can’t track him while my body is changing.The unexpectedness and newness of it is difficult toAnd my rage returns! I don’t know what’s happening, but I want it to stop! I need to stop him! Aaaahhhh!!!!! This must be what it’s like to be consumed with anger.Now my skin is the least of my concerns. My bones begin shifting, painfully at first as my humerus and my femur elongate, stretching in a way not humanly possible.A growl rumbles deep in my chest and I throw my head back as my nose and jaw stretch out. My spine shifts and my shoulders begin popping. It’s painful, but in a glorious way.Al