Blood dripped warm against the cracked stones, a crimson trail marking every staggered step Aria took. Her wolf limped, chest heaving, flank burning where the shadow’s claws had torn deep. But worse than the pain was the thrumming in her veins—the second heartbeat pounding louder, faster, threatening to rip her apart from the inside.
Killian pressed close to her side, his massive wolf a wall of fur and muscle, snarls ripping from his throat as he tore another shadow-creature to pieces. His storm-gray eyes never left her, blazing with fury and fear.
Stay with me, his voice commanded through the bond, ragged but unyielding. Don’t let them take you.
“I’m trying,” Aria gasped, her wolf whimpering as another spasm tore through her chest. “But it’s—gods, Killian, it’s inside me. It’s—”
The t
