Page 247

"No."

Arlene.

Rylan's head snaps toward the door, his entire body locking.

“Selena.”

Pine and leather flood the room as his aura surges. He runs. I follow.

Cold night air hits my bare chest as I rush onto the porch. White light flickers between the trees, and Selena steps into view. Barefoot. Her black hair blows around her face, their daughter cradled against her chest.

“Selena!”

Rylan disappears from beside me. He reaches her in seconds, his hands going straight to her face before sliding over her shoulders and arms.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“The baby?”

“She’s okay.”

His hand cups the back of his daughter's tiny head as he bends and presses his nose against her hair. The baby squirms. Rylan's shoulders drop.

Then someone steps from behind Selena. My heart stops. Black hair. Green eyes. Arlene. My wolf goes silent. So do I.

She looks at me. “Darian.”

Her voice crosses the yard, and the bond explodes. Every empty place inside me fills at once. Mate! My wolf howls.

I run. Grass tears beneath my bare feet. The cold air burns my lungs, but I barely feel it. Arlene runs too.

I catch her. Her body slams into mine, and my arms lock around her.

Sparks dance everywhere we touch.

I freeze.

I know those sparks.

Warm. She's warm.

“Arlene.”

My hands move over her back, her shoulders, her hair. Familiar sparks follow every touch, racing beneath my palms as I pull away just enough to grab her face. Green eyes. Tears. Her.

“Darian.”

I press my forehead against hers. Her breath touches my lips. Warm breath. Alive. Sparks dance between our skin as my hands shake and slide down her neck until I find her pulse beneath my fingertips. Thump. Thump. Thump.

My wolf surges against the bond. Mate alive.

Apple and cinnamon surround me. I drag her back against my chest and bury my face in her neck, breathing until my lungs are full of her.

“Arlene.”

Her arms tighten around me. “I'm here.”