Chapter: 12

I squeezed his hand, my heart swelling. Daniel was worth more than any of them combined.

“Ready to go?” “I'll go say goodbye to Dad,” Daniel said, and walked toward Kieran.

I turned away from my father’s grave, my heels sinking into the damp earth as I made for the car.

But I had barely made it halfway across the cemetery when chaos erupted.

One moment: the gray afternoon was still, broken only by soft sobs.

The next: a nightmare of howls and screams. Shadows with teeth burst from the trees—rogues, attacking without warning.

Daniel.

I spun around, searching through the chaos, his name a desperate prayer on my lips.

My brother's wolf stood protectively over our mother, blood dripping from his fangs. Across the clearing, Kieran’s massive golden-brown wolf circled Celeste—of course.

No one looked at me.

No one ever did.

The daughter without a wolf. The mate without a bond. The easy target.

The rogues saw it too.

Yellow eyes locked on me. A gaunt figure crept closer, nostrils flaring as it caught the scent of my fear.

“Daniel!” My scream tore through the din. Where was he? Where— A crushing weight slammed into my back. Claws raked my skin.

I hit the ground hard, the world spinning, dirt and blood filling my mouth.

A skeletal rogue loomed above me, snarling, fetid drool splattering my face.

So this was it. After everything, I would die here—on my knees, in the dirt.

My gaze swept the chaos, searching desperately for my son. My shoulders burned like fire, hot liquid running down my spine, but I didn’t care. All I could think of was Daniel.

I prayed silently—to any god who would listen—just let me see him one last time.

The rogue lunged.

And before its jaws could close around my throat, a blur of black intercepted it midair.

A sickening crack echoed as bones shattered. The beast was thrown aside like a rag doll.

A massive black wolf I had never seen before towered in front of me, its hackles raised, fangs bared, a growl rumbling from deep within its chest.