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L uc crouched on his haunches, watching the boulders near the dirt track where Marjani had concealed herself.

Finally, he’d caught a damn break. He’d been just missing her all week. His flight had been delayed because of a fucking tropical storm. He’d spent twenty-four hours at the Baltimore airport, then another six in that metal tube that passed for transportation.

By the time he’d landed in Iceland, she must’ve already headed north, but he’d lost another day in Reykjavik, following her scent all over the city.

He stayed in contact with Adric, but the alpha couldn’t get a read on her other than to say she was definitely in Iceland. Finally Marjani had turned on her phone, but only long enough for Adric to confirm she’d headed north. So Luc had followed, increasingly anxious.

He’d thought his luck had turned when he caught her scent near the beach. But it was mixed with the silver of a male fae, which made his wolf want to chew nails. Who was this man who kept crossing her path?

Then a huge storm had blown up and he’d lost both their scents in the deluge. Luc had waited out the storm in a barn with a herd of cranky goats who were not happy to share their space with a wolf. As soon as the rain slacked off, he’d resumed his trek north.

If Marjani had mated with him, he could’ve followed the bond. But she’d refused to accept him as her mate—although he’d asked. More than once.

But he’d finally caught up to her.

As a wolf, his sense of smell far surpassed hers, so after sending the alpha a quick text that he’d found her and she was all right, he took up a vigil downwind and out of sight. Just breathing her in like the lovesick ass he was.

He’d loved Marjani Savonett from the moment he’d first set eyes on the skinny teen with the soft voice and flashing knives. He’d known damn well she was scared—of her bastard of an uncle, that she’d lose Adric like she’d lost her mom and dad—but no one would’ve guessed it.

Until the night Corban’s people had kidnapped her and handed her over to that den of feral river fada.

When Luc and his men had picked her up the next morning on a Baltimore street, she’d been bruised and hollow-eyed.

He just wished her rapists were still alive so he could cut off their fucking balls and then stuff them down their throats.

A cold-eyed fae with silver hair zoomed up on a motorbike.

Luc crept closer. And then his heart damn near stopped as Marjani dove through the portal after the fae.

He pelted after her, narrowly avoiding plunging into a bog concealed by the unnatural fog. The portal closed as he arrived. Luc tried to leap through anyway. He caught a glimpse of a menacing black castle—and then it disappeared. He landed on the sparse grass, still in the human world.

He threw back his head and howled. He had to get to Marjani.

Even at the best of times, he was more wolf than human. Knowing she was inside a fae court without any backup made him half-crazed with worry. If something happened to her, he’d never forgive himself.

He took several paces back and forth in front of the portal before forcing himself to halt. This was getting him nowhere. He had to hide before the ice fae wondered what the big, brown, backpack-wearing wolf was up to.

Moving a few yards off the path, he hunkered down next to a pile of boulders. Around him, the fog thickened until he couldn’t see more than a few feet in any direction.

He pricked his ears and heightened his sense of smell. The locals had spoken of the vicious goblins that guarded this area. He had no desire to be set upon and torn to pieces.

The sun set and a cold breeze teased his fur. He hunched his shoulders, thankful for his thick coat, because he wasn’t moving from this spot.

Sooner or later, another fae would go through the portal, and this time, Luc would be ready.

Fear congealed in his stomach. Please let her be safe. Please don’t let the fae catch her.

The fae wouldn’t harm her. Not at first. They’d be more likely to force her into some one-sided bargain, keeping her as an assassin…or a sex toy.

But in Marjani’s current state of mind, just being held captive might be enough to drive her over the edge.

He growled, low and anxious, still pissed off at Adric. Why the fuck had he let her leave Baltimore?

Something in her was broken, even if Adric refused to admit it. People said she should step down as second, although no one was brave enough to say that to the alpha’s face.

If Marjani were Luc’s, he’d have tied her to the damn bed if necessary. She was too fragile to tangle with the fae.

But she wasn’t his, and he was beginning to fear she never would be. He loved her with all his heart, but the mate bond wasn’t there.

He expelled a breath.

Slipping out of the pack without shifting, he worked the clasp open with his teeth and munched through a couple of energy bars and a large chunk of beef jerky.

After that, he settled his head on his paws and dozed, ears pricked. But the night remained quiet save for the occasional squeak and growl of nocturnal creatures.

Just before dawn, he jerked awake as two fae in an SUV drove out of the portal heading south.

The portal remained open. He crept closer. The dirt track wound through the mist to the ominous black castle.

He sniffed, testing the air. He caught a whiff of silver, but that he’d expected. He darted through the shimmering circle.

It closed behind him, but he ignored it as he picked up Marjani’s trail. He paced forward, all his senses on high alert.

The high-pitched chatter reached him first. He dropped to his belly and froze.

A sour stench filled his nostrils. Shadows moved. Crept closer.

The fur on his neck stood straight up. He scrambled back up and took off at a run, but it was too late. A manic screech split the air.

He turned to face them, but they were all around him. Ripping at him with razor-like teeth and sharp black claws. Piling on his back until he went down under the sheer weight.

His last thought was a prayer that they hadn’t caught Marjani, too.