Thorne's POV
The words hit me like a low growl in the darkness.
“Can’t sleep, Alpha?”
I froze at the edge of the lake, my bare feet sinking into the cold mud. The water rippled under the moonlight, and then she rose from it like some kind of water spirit sent to test me.
Veronica.
Completely naked. Drops of water slid down her skin, catching the silver light, tracing every curve I used to know too well. Her dark hair clung to her shoulders, and her eyes glowed with that familiar hunger.
For a second, my body reacted on instinct…blood rushing hot, muscles tightening. But it wasn’t the same fire. It was nothing like the storm Elara had unleashed in me earlier.
“What are you doing here?” My voice came out rough, almost a snarl.
She smiled, slow and confident, and started walking to
