PROLOGUE
September 16th, 2016
Sara watched the sunset from her bedroom window, anticipation of the upcoming full-moon run making her fidgety. The last time she’d been here for the run was ten years ago. The view hadn’t changed. Her father’s land still held all its rugged, Cornish beauty, and her blood sang with the joy of being back.
Her grandfather’s pack were wonderful and had welcomed her and her mother back with open arms… but this washome. Opening the window, she let in the still-warm, late summer evening, and breathed deep. The faint tang of the sea floated in on the soft breeze, and Sara smiled to herself.
This was what she’d missed.
JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT, Sara shed her clothes and placed them on one of the kitchen chairs. Her father, Alpha Simon Gallen of the Pentarren pack, had given her the guest cottage at the edge of the pack buildings while she was here. Small but beautiful inside, it gave her enough privacy while still feeling part of the pack—even though she’d been gone for so long.
I guess the feeling of pack never goes away.
She hadn’t changed packs—not like her mother—her father had remained her alpha all these years. It was part of the arrangement her parents made when they split. As Sara’s gaze wandered over the vast countryside before her, she didn’t much care for the reasons this place still felt like home, like pack. She was just so very glad it did.
Closing her eyes, she let the pull of the moon draw her in. Her body relaxed, her wolf rising to the surface, and in her mind, Sara pictured mahogany-coloured fur covering her skin.
Pain—sharp and agonising—tore through her. Gone in the blink of an eye.
It was always worth it. A few seconds of torment in exchange for the chance to let her inner self free.
Breathing deep, Sara delighted at the way her sharpened senses heightened everything. The salty air so much stronger, as if she were standing at the top of a cliff overlooking the sea, the sounds of wildlife—foolishly up and about in the dark night—and the scent of pack, heavy and comforting, settling her nerves.
Padding across the concrete path, Sara headed for the fields at the back of the buildings. Their pack land covered acres and acres, far more than she was used to, and the freedom had her howling up to the moon in thanks. A few of her pack answered, their calls as joyous as hers, and she set off with no destination in mind, the urge to run carrying her away from the cottage.
Sara lost track of time. It could have been hours or minutes later that a faint scent on the air brought her to an abrupt halt. Skidding on the grass, she raised her nose in the air and sniffed. A shiver ran through her, nerves alight.
What was that smell? Who was it?
Whoever it was, they weren’t part of her pack. Glancing around, her surroundings were familiar enough to know that she’d come farther than she’d realised. Pentarren land backed up to that of the neighbouring pack, and Sara had apparently run far enough to catch a whiff of them out on their own full-moon run.
She should turn back.
As far as she was aware, the two packs were on friendly terms, but emotions ran high during the full moon. Best to keep her distance.
And yet…
She couldn’t resist another deep inhale, searching for that scent…
There it was again—citrusy and woodsy—and so damn appealing Sara was off and running before she registered moving.
I need to stop, turn back, butoh fuck… that smell.
Spurred on, Sara ignored the voice in her head telling her to stop and followed her instincts. Yes, she was in danger of crossing into Penwith pack territory without permission, but that tug inside her, thatpull,told her to keep going.
A skitter of feet and a low growl ahead brought her up short.
Even without enhanced vision, the full moon cast enough light for Sara to see the other wolf clearly enough.
A slender build with reddish-brown fur.
Female.
And the owner of the scent that had Sara’s blood roaring through her veins. Judging by the way the wolf was panting, Sara hadn’t been the only one chasing after something.
Unafraid, even though her heart pounded, and acting on sheer instinct, Sara shifted back to human form. “Hey,” she offered.
The wolf stared at her for a second, assessing, and Sara held her breath.
