Chapter 12 AURORA I pped at his gnarled wed hands , and he looked down at me with hatred .


    I tried to call for Trajan , but I couldnt breathe .


    Remi leaned close .


    In his lycan form he was half man , half wolf , nearly seven feet tall and corded with muscle .


    His face was wolf like and monstrous .


    Did you think you could walk away from us ? His sour breath washed over my face , and I gagged .


    He was squeezing so tight , I couldnt breathe .


    I pulled at his hands , but they were like steel .


    All the memories of him torturing me when we were both children came flooding back .


    My vision darkened around the edges .


    Would he kill me ? Would I ever see my children again ? Then a massive wall of muscle thudded into Remi .


    He went flying , and I was in the arms of my rescuer .


    Bigger than Remi .


    Stronger .


    With power rolling off of him like Id only experienced with one man .


    Chapter 12 2/6 My throat was bruised and swollen from Remis grip .


    Dane ? I whispered in a broken voice .


    Because I knew him .


    By his scent .


    By the feel of his thick , soft fur that was so dark gray it was nearly ck .


    By the way my instincts screamed at me lo curl into him and let him keep me safe .


    But Dane had never been safe .


    Not for me .


    He held me against him , his arm an iron band around my waist , and he snarled a challenge at Remi .


    Hatred ran deep between my brother and Dane .


    Remi pushed himself to his feet .


    In a voice like gravel , he growled , She was disloyal to you .


    She made you look like a fool .


    What the hell are you doing here , protecting her ? That was what I was wondering , but I was too terrified to ask , or think about it .


    I was too terrified to do anything but hold onto Dane and be grateful he was here .


    Shes ours , Remi continued , gesturing for Dane to hand me over .


    You never wanted her in the first ce , Give her here and let us have her back .


    You know what the Council will do if we spill each others blood .


    My terror grew as Dane paused , then loosened his grip .


    He was going to hand me over ! Chapter 12 DANE 3/6 I would never give her to them .


    Maybe shed betrayed me .


    That just made her mine to hold ountable for it .


    Not theirs .


    But I wasnt going to fight him one handed .


    I loosened my grip to set her aside .


    Then another wolf , massive and steel gray , came hurtling out of the night and mmed into Remington Reeds side .


    They went down hard , snarling and wing at each other .


    Trajan ! Ann screamed .


    Then Remi was up and yelping .


    I caught a glimpse of blood streaming from his neck and chest as he ran into the thick forest .


    Then he was gone .


    I hadnt had to shed his blood , thank the goddess .


    If I had , it might have meant the end of both of us .


    The steel gray wolf turned into Anns silent bodyguard and strode over to us .


    I was still holding her against me .


    She was so small in my arms , so delicate .


    My mind shed back to five years ago .


    The one time I had imed her .


    A Chapter 12 The beast in me wanted to im her again .


    4/6 To his credit , the man didnt flinch , even though I still wore my lycan form .


    Over seven feet tall , my body bulging with muscle , my ws long and sharp .


    It took a powerful werewolf to be able to shift into this between form .


    Of all the shapes a wolf could take , it was the deadliest .


    Alpha Montague , her bodyguard said .


    Put the Luna heir down .


    His voice was respectful , but it was still amand .


    That wasnt why I listened .


    I set her down because I couldnt trust myself for as long as my hands were on her , no matter what form I was in .


    As I set Ann down and she brushed herself off she was still in the silver dress that made me want to bite every luxurious curve on her body I started to believe that maybe the representative from High Alpine had been there , after all .


    That Ann wasnt lying when she said she found a new family .


    That the woman in my arms wasnt my ex wife at all .


    At least , nol anymore .


    This woman was someone different .


    Chapter 12 5/6 What happened to you , Ann ? I asked .


    For the first time since shed walked into the g earlier tonight , I wasnt enraged .


    I wanted to know .


    She raised that one cool eyebrow again .


    Shed never made that face as my wife , but it was already starting to be familiar .


    Its Aurora , she said .


    The moon was mostly full , and beneath its silver light , she was so beautiful she only looked half real .


    Like I might have dreamed hering back to me .


    The way Id dreamed too many times before .


    Dreams I despised .


    Dreams I couldnt get rid of , no matter what I did .


    If youre ready to listen , she said , Ill tell you … almost … anything you want to know .


    The night was cool , and she shivered and hugged herself .


    In that motion selffort I finally saw a sh of the woman I used to know .


    All right , I said .


    Im ready .


    Good , then lets ah ! She took a step forward and fell .


    Her bodyguard moved , but I was faster .


    I caught her and lifted her in my arms .


    Damn it .


    Why didnt you say you were hurt ?