Chapter 18 CHAPTER FIFTEEN PART TWO
ALORA
I barely make it to my quarters before collapsing against the door. My hands shake, my wolf thrashing against her cage. He was so close to the truth, his questions circling nearer with each one.
What are you so afraid I'll discover?
Everything. I'm afraid he'll discover everything.
Sarah finds me there, sliding down to sit beside me. "That bad?"
I nod, not trusting my voice.
"He's... intense," she says carefully. "But he protects what's his. Maybe you could trust him."
"I can't." The words come out broken. "If he knew what I was—"
"What you are?" She turns to face me. "Alora, whatever secret you're keeping, it's eating you alive. And your heat is getting stronger. Soon you won't be able to hide anymore."
She's right. I can feel my control slipping, my wolf growing stronger as the full moon approaches. In three days, I won't be able to suppress her anymore.
Three days until everything falls apart.
Unless I run first.
The thought forms before I can stop it. I could leave tonight, slip through the borders before the new patrols start. Disappear into the wilderness and never look back.
But even as I plan it, my wolf howls in protest. She doesn't want to run anymore.
She wants to stay. Wants him. Wants to bare our throat and let him claim us completely.
"You're thinking about running," Sarah says softly.
"How did you—"
"I've seen that look before. On slaves who don't survive their first week." She squeezes my hand. "Don't run, Alora. Whatever you're hiding, facing it here is safer than out there alone."
I want to believe her. Want to trust that somehow, impossibly, everything will work out.
But I've seen what happens to blood-wolves. I know the stories, the hunts, the brutal ends.
And I know that when Alpha Stone discovers the truth, even his protection won't be enough.
Because loving a blood-wolf is a curse.
And
I refuse to let him suffer it.