Chapter 11 · The Pack Wants Blood

Kade's hand locked around my wrist.

"What the hell are you doing?" His voice came out rough. The black veins crawling up his jaw pulsed.

I didn't pull away. "Buying you time."

"With your blood." Not a question. His eyes flickered gold, then back to storm gray. "Why would your blood help?"

Behind us, footsteps. Multiple sets. Heavy boots on stone.

I yanked my wrist free and stepped back. Too late.

Silas came through the corridor first, three pack enforcers behind him. His gaze went straight to the blade in my hand. Then to Kade's face. The black veins. The shaking in Kade's shoulders he was trying to hide.

"Alpha." Silas stopped ten feet away. His tone was careful. Too careful. "We heard shouting."

Kade straightened. The effort it took showed in the tightness around his mouth. "I'm fine."

"You're not." One of the enforcers, Marcus, stepped forward. His eyes were on me. "What did she do?"

"Nothing." Kade's voice went hard. Alpha command. "Go back to your posts."

Marcus didn't move. "Alpha, your curse—it's worse. And she's holding a knife."

More footsteps. Voices echoing down the hall.