The heavy thud of paws on the wet earth outside came to a sudden halt at the edge of the cabin's clearing.
Ace didn't flinch.
The vulnerable mate who had just been offering his throat to Rose vanished in a fraction of a second. In his place stood the cold, calculating commander of the Nightroot Pack. He rose from the sofa, his jaw set in a hard, rigid line as his ears tracked the movement on the porch.
"Get into the bedroom," Ace commanded, his voice dropping into a low, authoritative whisper that brooked no argument. "Get under the covers and stay absolutely still. No matter what you hear, do not move."
Rose didn't hesitate. The sheer danger radiating from him anchored her panic. She scrambled off the sofa, grabbed the woolen blanket, and disappeared into the dark bedroom hallway just
