Willow opened her eyes slowly—
—and for a moment, nothing made sense.
The ceiling above her was unfamiliar.
The scent in the air was different.
Earthier.
Wilder.
Not the clean, structured scent of the Black Howler Pack she had known all her life.
Then everything came rushing back.
The hospital.
The pain.
The weakness in her body.
Damon.
The mark.
Her breath caught slightly as her hand instinctively moved to her neck, fingers brushing over the sensitive skin where his teeth had sunk into her.
The bond.
It was there.
Strong.
Alive.
Unavoidable.
Her chest tightened.
She remembered his voice.
His words.
“You have to come with me.”
Not a request.
A demand.
She remembered the argument.
The lack of choice.
Come with him—
Or the alliance would fall apart.
And she had c
