The morning fog lay thick across the pack grounds, muffling the usual stir of wolves and warriors. Evelyn awoke on the hard wooden floor of her small quarters, muscles screaming in protest from the previous day’s labors. Her bruises throbbed like an unhealed curse, and she pressed her hands to her chest, feeling the faint pulse of the bond.
It was subtle at first, a low hum beneath her ribs, a reminder of Lucien’s presence, of the invisible tether that drew her closer despite everything he had done. She swallowed hard and tried to shake it away.
Her small frame rose shakily to her feet, the floorboards cold beneath her bare feet. She avoided the mirror in the corner, knowing that each bruise and tear-streaked cheek would be visible, a testament to yesterday’s humiliation. Yet as her refl
