Chapter 12 · The First Oath

"We do this together." Cain's voice has that Alpha edge, the one that makes grown wolves fall in line. "All three of us mark her at the same time. The curse breaks. The seal opens. We deal with what comes after."

Rex laughs. It's not a nice sound. "You make it sound so clean. Like we're signing a contract."

"We are."

"No." Rex steps closer to me. His eyes are already glowing, that amber-gold that means his wolf's rising. "We're binding ourselves to her. Forever. You get that, right? This isn't some tactical alliance you can walk away from when the mission's over."

We're in the clearing north of the safe house. Neutral ground, Cain called it. Rex said anywhere's fine as long as Damian's goons aren't watching. Aiden just followed me out here without asking.

I'm done pretending I get a vote.

The moon's coming up in twenty minutes, and I can already feel it—like a hook dragging through muscle. My wolf's clawing at the inside of my ribs, demanding out.

The trees are too quiet. No birds. No wind.