SKY
A hard hit lands on the same cheek again. Pain flashes sharp and deep. The chair jerks sideways, legs scraping, my weight tipping toward the ground.
Muscles lock. The ground feels close. The fall feels certain. But the need to stay upright holds me still. My core tightens. I force the chair steady, breathing through clenched teeth.
Anger stacks fast and heavy. My wolf pushes forward, her eyes burning under my skin. Claws ache, ready to break free. Heat crawls up my arms.
Not yet, my wolf warns. You’ll need everything you have for what’s coming.
The sting fades quicker than it should. Healing slides in, cool and calm, closing the damage. I feel it seal. I know it does. Rylan Rock sees it too. His face darkens as the red drains from my cheek.
“What the hell?” he snaps. “How did yo
