Lucian's POV
The growl was low. Deep. Primal.
Not one of ours.
No.
My heart slammed against my ribs as I whirled, instantly stepping in front of Maeve, shielding her with my body.
"Run," I snapped. "Maeve, RUN!"
She didn't move. Just stood there behind me, frozen, trembling, her breath caught in her throat.
Another growl. Louder. Closer.
I caught a flicker of movement in the shadows. A massive, hulking figure slinking through the trees, its black fur slick as oil, eyes glowing like embers in the dark. It was a black Lycan.
And then there were three more. Brown ones. Emerging from the trees like predators on cue. Teeth bared. Stalking.
Rogues.
Shit.
I didn't even think before my claws shot out, Kael surging to the surface, muscles rippling, instincts burning. But even he snarled low in my mind, unnerved.
Why didn't I get their scents earlier? Why didn't I smell them? Why didn't I become aware of them until it was too late?
Maeve still hadn't moved.
