Mila rose and ran into the forest, wincing as an occasional branch snapped under her bare feet, poking into her tender skin. When she wasn’t in wolf form, she definitely noticed the texture of the forest floor.

She tried to focus on the way ahead of her, forcing herself not to look back at the man she had left behind. Last night had been delicious insanity, but so many obstacles stood between them. The smart thing to do would be to forget about him. Move on with her life, marry the next Alpha and lead the pack as her parents always meant her to.

But how could she, when even now, every cell in her body thrummed with need for Elijah? There was something so primal, so carnal, about their mating. No one else — man or wolf — had ever made Mila crave him the way she craved Elijah. Even in the blackest moments of night, when he was nothing more than a shadow and a promise, she needed him.

If there was such a thing as destiny, Elijah was hers. And she had to keep her promise to him. Whatever it takes.

She was still telling herself that, still struggling to imagine how they could overcome the obstacles in their path, when she emerged onto Syringa Ridge. Her parents’ mansion dominated a bluff facing the sea. No one was visible on the grounds, and she moved with as much stealth as her human form would allow, trying to shield both her presence and nudity from anyone who might glance out a window and see her.

Mila availed herself of the trellis against the side of the house to get to the second floor. The roses weren’t yet in bloom, but the thorns tried to keep her from ascending, digging into her flesh and taking bits as trophies of the struggle. The minor pricks were nothing compared to the satisfied ache between her thighs, and she climbed rapidly, knowing time was against her.

Soon, everyone would awaken, and if she weren’t in her room, her night’s adventure would be exposed. Unless she wanted to live the next few weeks until the wedding under lock-and-key, she couldn’t let that happen.

She fumbled with the window to her room, clinging to the trellis with one hand, while pushing against the casement with the other, trying to force it up. Mila nearly fell when the window flew up, propelled by someone inside her room.

Whoever it was remained obscured from her view, forcing her to enter the bedroom without knowing who waited. With a deep breath, she clambered into her suite, squaring her shoulders in preparation for the coming confrontation.

A tiny breath of relief escaped her when she saw her mother standing before her.

Maeva, impeccably groomed even in a pair of satin pajamas and matching lounge socks, her expression betraying her disapproval. She thrust a robe at Mila.

“Where have you been?” Her tone of voice revealed her worry.

Mila wrapped herself in the white silk kimono and turned away from her mother to walk to the vanity table. She sat on the padded velvet bench to examine her unkempt reflection.

Her cheeks were flushed from the chilly night air — and her interrupted mating session. Scratches marred her creamy complexion. Wavy strands of auburn hair twisted in mad directions all over her head, and the pupils of her green eyes were dilated with a twinge of defiance. She lifted a wooden paddle brush and began detangling her messy locks.

“Where do you think? I went for a run.”

Maeva strode forward, the footfalls of her slippers cushioned by the thick cream-colored carpet. Her hand was rigid when it dropped on Mila’s shoulder.

“During a full moon, when you’re least able to control your impulses? You know that’s forbidden.”

She shrugged off her mother’s hand and made a production of brushing her hair.

“I’m tired of everything being forbidden. I’m twenty-three, and I have no freedom. I’ve never even been off this island without an escort.” She slammed the brush onto the vanity table. “I’m tired of it, Mother!”

Maeva sighed and replaced her hand on her daughter’s shoulder, patting gently.

“I know it’s frustrating, Mila. But things will improve for you after you join with Jared. You will no longer need protection from other males. No one would dare harm the Lupina.”

Mila swiveled her head to face her mother, a fiery resignation in her eyes. “Mother, I’m not marrying Jared.”

Saying the words out loud brought an accompanying sense of liberation Mila hadn’t expected. For more than a year, thoughts of rebellion had circled through her mind. But as the wedding date approached, and the unwanted pairing came closer to becoming a reality, Mila’s hopes of escape dampened with each passing day.

But then she met Elijah, and everything changed.

Maeva’s hand fell from her shoulder, and she gasped. “Don’t talk like that. If someone heard you—”

Her mother’s response only served to crystallize her determination. “I’m not marrying him.” She raised her voice, hoping someone would stumble by her room and hear so they could carry the tale down the road to the Sundown family’s mansion, saving her the trouble of confronting Jared with the news.

Her mother’s face suddenly showed its age as it took on an inflexible expression.

“You have no choice. Niall and Vasek made the agreement the month of your birth.”

“This is the twenty-first century. Father had no right to promise me to someone. I am going to marry whom I decide, not your choice.” The sharp crack of Maeva’s hand against her cheek had her recoiling and touching her face with shock. The slap stung, but what amazed her was that her mother had done it at all. Never had she raised a hand to Mila.

Maeva appeared equally surprised as she balled her hand into a fist and shoved it into the pocket of her pajamas. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have struck you, but you frightened me.”

Mila raised a brow. “What?”

Her voice dropped, and she knelt beside Mila, physically turning her head so that she was forced to meet her mother’s gaze. “You can’t speak like that, Mila. There is unrest in the Sundown Pack. Rumors abound that another male will challenge Jared’s ascension. If you don’t mate with him as promised, it will weaken his authority. It will also give grounds for a challenge to anyone intent on usurping Jared. He must be mated before he can take over the pack.”

Nausea rolled through Mila’s stomach and her spark of rebellion flickered, almost going out. She hadn’t realized so much depended on her union with Jared. She glanced away from her mother, hoping to shore her defenses. “It’s not my problem,” she whispered.

“It will be if Jared is defeated. The first thing the new Alpha will do is reorganize the pack. He will force every member of the Sundown family to leave the island and remove any of their supporters. As Beta, your father would be in danger.” Maeva shuddered. “Should this usurper ascribe to the old ways, he could kill any opposition outright and no one would stop him.”

Mila turned in her chair, grasping her mother’s hands. “Then let’s leave now, before the ascension. Let Jared and his family worry about keeping their power. We don’t need to be here. Father’s business is not dependent on the pack for success. We can build a new life.”

Sadness filled Maeva’s eyes, and she withdrew from Mila’s hold. “Our life is here, Mila. Maybe if we were younger, your father and I could start over, but it’s too late. We live as humans, but we are still wolf-shifters. We need the pack, and they need us.” She shook her head. “And Jared needs you. You must do your duty for the pack.”

The flame fanning her rebellion went out with what she swore was an audible whoosh inside her mind. Mila’s shoulders sagged, and she nodded just once, not verbalizing her acquiescence, but knowing it was clear, all the same.

Maeva straightened from her crouch, bending forward to kiss the top of her daughter’s head. “You’ve made the right choice, darling. It’s best if you don’t mention last night to anyone. There’s no need to upset your father by telling him what happened. And there’s certainly no need to tell Jared.”

But no one cares if I’m upset, she thought with silent resentment as her mother left the room. Why were her wishes, dreams, and aspirations so unimportant?

She couldn’t understand why her parents clung so tenaciously to the status quo, but what could she do? The pack was all about family and unity, putting communal welfare above personal happiness. That pack mentality had been pushed on her since birth, and the responsibility of continuing their way of life weighed heavy her shoulders.

There was no escaping her destiny.

But there was no way to hide the truth about last night. Maeva may not be able to detect Elijah’s mark on her, but any male would pick up on it the moment he got close enough. Including Jared.

If Mila had been smart, she would have accepted her night with Elijah as a transient moment of bliss, one they could never repeat. But now I belong to him.

The thought filled her with sadness, opening a deep hole in her heart, creating a desperate, aching need. As she fought back the salty tears stinging her eyes, Elijah’s mark on her skin grew warm and began to throb, the heat of it burning into her soul as memories of last night flashed through her mind. All at once, her sex flooded with desire for him,

She dipped a hand between her legs, caressing herself through the dampened silk of her robe. Her hips tilted forward to meet her fingertips, and as she stroked the fabric over her clit, she imagined his hands on her, his long, thick cock entering her.

She moved her robe aside and dipped one finger inside herself, then another, as she continued to stroke her clit, her pace quickening as she recalled the way Elijah’s cock pistoned in and out of her pussy as he brought her to the brink.

Mila. His whisper in her mind was as loud and clear as if he were standing right in front of her. I’m coming for you.

Mila gasped as her climax rippled through her, sending alternating waves of shivers and sparks through her body. Her surroundings blurred, and in their place she caught glimpses of Elijah’s eyes, fiery with his lust for her. Her mouth went slack, and final shudder wracked her body before she collapsed to the floor in exhaustion.

And in that moment, she knew the truth. Her destiny was no longer certain. Not by a long shot.

Because now that Elijah had marked her — claimed her — there was no escaping him.

Even if that meant defying the Alpha himself.