"Silence. The first one to snap a twig will be fed to the crows before this pup is."
I pressed against the trunk of a centuries-old oak, feeling the rough bark against my skin. Fog licked at my boots, heavy and cold as a dead man's breath.
"Is he close, Commander?" Varn's voice behind me barely vibrated.
"Shut up. Listen."
A silence so heavy hung in the forest that I could hear my own heartbeat. And then—a sharp, deafening jolt in my chest. Not mine.
Hers.
Alina. In the castle, miles away, she was drowning in her own terror. Her fear surged into my veins like molten lead. The bitter, acrid taste of panic on my tongue.
"He's on the trail," I exhaled, baring a fang. "To arms."
The Silverclaw scout emerged from the grey haze like a phantom. A grey cloak, silent steps, hand on the hilt of a dagger. A professional. He froze, scenting the damp air.
"Now!" I lunged forward, crashing through the brush.
Steel sang. The scout was faster than I expected. He dodged the first swing, rolled, and slashed my forearm. A flash of pain seared my nerves, but was immediately drowned in a new wave from the castle.
Alina screamed in my head. Her terror resonated with my rage, morphing into something dark and mighty. My muscles swelled, filled with foreign, stolen power.
"Is this all you're capable of, Silverclaw dog?"
"You talk too much for someone who's about to die," he rasped, aiming for my throat.
His thrust was precise. But to me, he moved as if through molasses. I saw every contraction of his sinews. Thank you, Alina. Your fear is excellent fuel.
I caught his wrist. The bone snapped under my fingers like a dry branch.
"What... what are you?" He dropped the knife, pressing his back into the mud.
"Your final nightmare."
I loomed over him, feeling blood hammer in my temples in time with her sobs.
"Who ordered the crossing of the border? Speak, and I'll kill you quickly."
"My lord... he will burn your lands..." He spat blood onto my boot.
"Wrong answer."
One short strike. The forest fell silent again, save for the heavy breathing of my warriors.
"Clear this trash away," I wiped the blade on the dead man's cloak. "And get the horses ready. Move!"
"Aren't we going to sweep the rest of the sector?" Varn stepped forward, wiping away sweat.
"I don't give a damn about the sector. We're going back. Right now."
The road to the castle blurred into one dark smudge. Hooves bit into the sodden earth, and the bond pulsed, scorching my mind. She felt I was close. She was trembling, and that tremor made me push the horse to a full gallop.
I burst through the gates, not waiting for the guard to finish his report.
"My lord, losses among—"
"Later!" I shoved the duty officer so hard he flew against the wall.
I reeked of sweat, the forest, and the scout's dried blood. The perfect bouquet for what I was about to do.
The doors to her chambers flew open with a kick. The candle on the table flickered and died, leaving the room in grey twilight.
Alina huddled in the corner of the bed. Her chemise had slipped from her shoulder; her hair was a mess. She looked at me as if I were the very monster from her nightmares, finally made flesh.
"Go away... please..." her voice broke into a whisper.
"You nearly cost me my life," I moved slowly toward her, pulling off my filthy gloves as I went.
"I didn't do anything... I just—"
"You were whimpering in my head! Your weakness was ringing in my ears while I held a sword!"
I grabbed her chin, forcing her to look into my eyes. She smelled of lavender and pure, wild terror. My inner wolf howled in delight.
"Were you that afraid for me, Alina? Or for yourself?"
"You're a monster..." She tried to push my hands away, but I pinned her against the wall.
The cold stone met her shoulder blades. I loomed over her, feeling her heart hammering against my ribs.
"Your fear gave me strength," I leaned to her ear, my breath scorching her skin. "I felt you shaking while I broke his bones. We need to reinforce this lesson. So that next time, you know your place."
"No... Cale, don't..."
"You belong to me. Every breath. Every heartbeat. And you will never forget it."
I didn't bother with pleasantries. My fingers dug into her shoulders, pinning her in place. I saw her pupils dilate as I bared my teeth.
"Look at me."
"Cale, please..."
"Look!"
She raised eyes full of tears. In that moment, I felt total submission. Her will broke, buckling under my weight.
I lunged forward, sinking my teeth into her neck—exactly where an old scar was already fading.
Alina shrieked. A sharp, piercing sound cut through the silence of the room. Her body arched; her fingers desperately clawed at my forearms, scratching the skin.
The hot copper of her blood filled my mouth. The bond flared like a supernova. I saw through her eyes—the dark figure looming over her; I felt her pain as ecstasy. She was mine. More than ever before.
I pulled away after an eternity, licking a drop of blood from my lips.
Alina slid down the wall to the floor, covering her face with her hands. Her shoulders shook with small tremors, and her quiet, ragged sobs were the only sound in the room.
"You will be quiet now," I straightened up, adjusting my jacket. "Now you will remember who you owe every breath to."
"Go away..." came from below.
I looked down at her, feeling absolute, icy satisfaction. The energy drained from her fear and pain still seethed in my veins, promising invincibility.
"Tomorrow morning, you will come down for breakfast. In this same dress. And you will smile at my guests."
I turned and walked out without looking back. The door slammed shut, leaving her alone in the darkness, thick with the scent of my victory.