Chapter 24 · Eclipse Sacrifice

The chains are in my hands before I realize I've made the decision.

Ethan's watching me from across the warehouse floor. Blood from Mara's body—what's left of it—is still wet on the concrete between us. The smell hits different now. Copper and rot and something underneath that makes my teeth ache. Hunter instinct trying to catalogue threats.

Every wolf in a three-block radius just became a target I can track.

Including him.

"Charlotte." His voice is careful. Like I'm a bomb he's trying to talk down. "We don't have to do this."

"Yeah we do." I shake out the chain. It's heavy. Silver-plated links that Viktor left in a gym bag by the door. Thoughtful of him. "Moon's gonna hit full in two hours. You think you can hold it together that long?"

He doesn't answer right away. His jaw tightens and I see the flicker—gold bleeding into his eyes before he forces it back down. He's fighting it already.

"I can handle it," he says.

"Bullshit." I walk toward him and he takes a step back. Instinct. Smart. "You've been barely holding on since yesterday. Now I'm activated and you're what—