Lorien POV
Had those hands, the same ones now cradling my face so gently, really just taken a life?
“Lorien,” he murmured again, the edge in his voice softened to a quiet breath. I forced myself to meet his eyes. “Can you do this?”
His words were a whisper meant only for me, slipping beneath the hum of the pack gathered around us. My throat felt tight, but I nodded anyway. What choice did I have?
“Good.”
The sound of approaching footsteps pulled my gaze past his shoulder toward the house. But Auren didn’t let go. His fingers remained firm beneath my chin, grounding me in a storm I didn’t understand. And then his lips touched mine.
Heat unfurled in my stomach like a rush of wings. My eyes flew open in shock, too stunned to pull away. I’d only ever known one kiss before one person befo
