I can see Edric standing at the edge of the forest, looking up at me. I absolutely scared the life out of him earlier, though I don’t know why. It’s not like I gathered the troops and handed them sticks and rocks or something. It was just a suggestion; one that still makes perfect sense to me. But it doesn’t to him, so I make a mental note to guard what I say from now on. I’ve become very comfortable very quickly with him, and once again, my out of control mouth landed me in trouble. I really, really need to learn how to stop and think before I speak. I turn around and go back inside. Edric will be here soon. He’ll want to talk, because that’s what he always does. Talk. He really does think that if you talk enough, you can solve any problem. ~ Not always, ~ my wolf says. ~ What about the rogue? ~ * The exception proves the rule. * The door flies open, and Edric steps in wearing only his boxer briefs. He honestly doesn’t give two shits who sees him nak

Edric's POV: I watch Maya eat. She doesn’t want to talk to me right now, and who can blame the poor girl? My instincts told me not to tell her, but I pushed that nagging little voice away, and now I’m regretting it. She wasn’t ready to hear the truth. Nor is she ready to find her parents. Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury to wait until she is ready. The sooner she knows, the sooner I can tell the rest of the pack, and the sooner we can start preparing. I mind-link Jasper and Luca. “Are you awake?” “Yes,” they answer almost at once. “Maya’s the wolf from the prophecy.” Neither of them question my statement. “Ah fuck,” Luca says, “I’m sorry man.” “That means you are…you have to be the Lycan from the texts,” Jasper says. “The one that leads us into battle.” “Yeah.” “You’re Lycan?” Luca asks, surprised. “Apparently, I am…it must be on my mother’s side.” “How did you find out?”

I sit on the porch steps, watching as the other wolves take care of the rogues that showed up. I have no idea what came over me. I heard the wolf growl and watched the scene unfold from the balcony. I could even see Edric tensing up, getting ready to attack – and I knew right away that he would have summoned help just like last time. Something, I can’t say what it was, even now, told me to go outside and talk to the she-wolf. That same something that drove me forward told me I have nothing to fear from these rogues. And I listened to that little voice. Why? It’s not in my nature to put myself in danger like that. Jolie looks up at me, giving me her usual hateful stare, but I ignore her. I have bigger worries. The rogues submitted to me in the same way the others submitted to Edric when they joined the pack. What does that mean? Am I supposed to be their Alpha now? Because, not gonna lie here, I am not down for that. I can barely take care of myself, how am I supposed

I am not okay. Not even a little bit. My wolf is seething, trying his best to break free. I can’t let him; he will go on a rampage, and just now, there are a lot of easy rogue targets waiting for him right outside our front door. I thought holding Maya close to me would help, but it’s not doing a damn thing. My wolf growls softly, the angry rumble vibrating deep in my chest. * Stop. We will scare her. * But Maya looks unperturbed. She takes a step back though, and looks me straight in the eye. “Run it off.” “I can’t. I’m too angry. I’ll lose control.” “Then lose control for a little while. It’s not that bad. I’ve given over to my wolf many times.” “Yes, I know, and what did your wolf do while you took a little nap in your subconscious?” My question comes out sharper than I intent, but my mate just keeps looking at me, completely unbothered. “I have no idea, but I never heard about any bodies being found in the woods.” I give her a tigh

I’m a bit dazed, feeling Edric throb inside me, the warmth of him filling me up from the inside, spilling through my entire being. Is it always this good? I doubt it. This must be a werewolf mate thing again – like those little bolts of electricity that shoots through me every time he touches me. Edric doesn’t move. He lies with his head turned away from me, his breathing ragged, biting into his fist while the thumb on his other hand caresses my jaw. The smell of his blood suddenly fills my nostrils. Okay, that’s new, until two days ago I wouldn’t have known the difference between his blood and mine. I push him off me, already missing his heavy body on mine, the way he fills me up. Obediently, he rolls off me and away. “What are you doing?” He growls. A deep, menacing sound. Well, crap, that can’t be good. And to my surprise, a low rumble burst out of my chest. What the fuck? * Don’t growl at him! * I admonish my wolf. ~ He wants to mark us. ~