Roxie's POV
Marcus was on his knees at the gate when I reached it.
He looked nothing like the man who had stood at the altar three days ago, ready to claim me in front of the whole pack. His face was a ruin of purple and black. One eye had swollen shut. Dried blood crusted the corner of his mouth, and his fine ceremony shirt hung off him in dirty ribbons. His hands gripped the iron bars so tight his knuckles had gone white, and when he saw me, he made a sound that was half my name and half a sob.
"Roxie. Roxie, please—"
Raptor moved before anyone else could. He crossed the gate yard in three long strides, and there was nothing soft in him now. His golden eyes had gone dark at the edges. "Give me one reason," he said, very quietly, "why I should not end you right here."
"Raptor." I pu
