Chapter 40

I’ve lost track of time, each hour blending into the next as I’m moved from one location to another. The places are dark and cold, and I’ve become accustomed to the harsh reality of being constantly on the move. My hands are bound, and the ropes chafe against my skin, but the physical discomfort is secondary to the fear and anxiety gnawing at me.

The wolf hunters are relentless, questioning a barrage of demands and threats. They want information—anything they can use to their advantage. Each time they ask a question, their voices are laced with a menacing undertone that makes my skin crawl.

“What’s your mate planning?” one of them demands, his voice rough and unforgiving. “We know you’re connected to him. Tell us where he is.”

I can’t bring myself to answer. The bond between Luke and me is a lifeline, a thread that connects us even though we’re apart. I cling to that connection, drawing strength from it, even though it’s faint and intermittent. The thought of giving away any informati