My fingers tug at his shirt, the fabric tearing under my grip, and I feel Eric’s hands on my shoulders, his lips moving lower, trailing fire across my skin. It’s raw, consuming, the kind of heat that could burn this whole pack house down. 

I want more—more of Rick, more of Eric, more of this bond that makes us whole, even without her.

“What the hell are you guys doing?” a voice snaps, sharp and raw, cutting through the haze.

I freeze, my lips still on Rick’s, my hands gripping his hair. I turn my head, slow and deliberate, and there she is—Lia, standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock, her face a storm of fury and something else, something that makes my wolf howl. 

My smirk widens, slow and deliberate, as I meet her gaze, letting her see every bit of the monster she hates.

Screams jolt me awake, sharp and panicked, ripping me out of sleep. My eyes snap open to see Dorian leaning over me, his hand shaking my shoulder. His face is tense in the dim light. The room is filled with smoke, thick and choking, stinging my throat and eyes. I cough hard, my chest burning, and grab his arm.


"Dorian, what's going on?" My voice comes out hoarse, broken by the smoke.


He pulls me upright, his movements quick, his voice urgent. "The pack house is on fire, Lia. Someone set it. We gotta get out."


My heart pounds as he grabs my hand and leads me toward the door. The hallway is already clouded with smoke, dark and heavy, wrapping around us like a blanket. My bare feet hit the floor, cold and rough, while each breath makes my lungs burn more. Dorian pulls me through the haze, steady and strong, guiding me even as my legs stumble.


Chapter 63 - chapter 62