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I gave a small squeeze, reassuring myself that Orion was fine.

“The stink of humans is all over them. Humans created them, maybe controlled them, these…collaredwolves.”

“For what purpose?” I asked.

Orion shook his head. “Nothing good. Those humans that were on our border?” he speculated. “Maybe these wolves were some kind of weapon.”

“We’ve never seen a weapon like this.”

“Or an experiment? An experimental weapon.”

“To attack us?” Mica asked.

There were too many questions. And Orion didn’t have an answer. “It seems that way. All I know is that this further affirms our fears about humans. They’re dangerous, especially if they’re using these monstrous… things to attack us.”

Jesse stomped into the hut just then. “And what are we going to do about it?”

To my surprise, Orion turned to meet Jesse’s gaze evenly. Something about the silent, simmering rage in his shining eyes chilled me. “We have to protect ourselves. This is my command as Alpha. From now on, we shall avoid humans… and we will treat trespassers as the genuine threat they are.”

I looked up at him. “Are you sure that’s the right thing to do?”

He managed a small, half smile, stroking my cheek as if he could wipe all my fears away. “For you? For our family? I would die before I risk losing you. We have no other choice, my love.”

He leaned down to kiss my frown away. Selena’s voice rang in my head, reminding me that we had good relations with some humans in town, and that she now lived with all humans all the time. I didn’t want to believe that all of them were dangerous.

But Orion was right to be on guard. We’d been attacked and who knew whether other beasts lurked in the shadows. And as much as I knew he’d protect me, I knew that I would die to protect him.

We were Alpha and future Luna, mates bound together by the fates. If he was hurt, so was I. His death spelled my own. Orion and I were inextricably woven together for the rest of time, and I could tell by the silent look we shared, he understood this truth as well…

I was his. He was mine.