Through the open window, the first frost bites at my nose. I sit at my desk and write. Well, I was writing, but now I’m just staring. The white snow is a blank canvas that seems to catch my thoughts and luckily doesn’t return them back to me.

I like the numbness it provides—the way the blanket of pure, untouched nature washes everything out.

I could gaze like this for hours.

“Did you hear me, Noble?” Winnie says, and I blink over at her, just now remembering she’s been reading in my chair by the fire. “You can’t still blame yourself.”

How she knows my thoughts are drifting to that long winter night, the fateful eve of Katarina’s death, is a mystery.

Winnie closes her book. “You can’t still think it was any of your doing. Not after all this time. You were naught but a child.”

I frown at Winnie before rubbing a hand over my face. When had we grown up? We’ve elevated quickly from playful foot-races to talking of death, guilt and blame.

And she’s gotten so beautiful. Winnie—Winifred —a name she hates almost as much as her plain, brown hair. But it had never seemed plain to me. It had always seemed… lovely. Too bad she’s a springer, and I’m just…

“I can’t stop thinking about it. You didn’t know her well, but Kat was sweet. Ambitious at times, yes. I tried so hard to find her, but then, it was like I lost myself…”

I turn to look outside again, fading off, like I usually do.

Winnie comes near and tries to pull me from the window. “You were in the woods for six whole months before they found you. How could your parents know you’d gotten some sort of rogue gene? It’s not fair. Wolves lose more mates than any other.”

“They shouldn’t have to die. Not simply to prove a connection. It’s barbaric.”

Winnie gives up on me when I don’t move and searches my bookshelf instead. “When you’re the King of Winter, you’ll change that, Noble. Can I borrow this one?”

“Yes, of course.”

She wiggles her nose when she opens the old book, dust pluming.

I laugh at the sight. “My lady, I think it’s time you head back to your home.”

“What?” she asks, and her little face twitches even more.

“Your nose,” I say.

She sighs. “Damn. And I can’t stop thinking about carrots, either.”

It used to be cute. Now, it’s endearing more than I’d like to admit. The way her face is always moving. The subtle hints of her truest form. When I am as I am now, I think of her long, pretty ears when she changes. It’s kind of alluring. The bunnies always are too damn pretty for their own good.

But then, when I am as I am during the full moon, I try not to think of how I’d rip Winnie’s flesh from her bones without hesitation. I shudder.

Her brown eyes narrow at me. “Getting close, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“I can tell. Your eyes lose the last of their blue and become slate. You’re already like your father in ways, but somehow, Noble, when the full moon is almost upon us, you become a man of silver shadow.”

Her hand finds my cheek, but I stop her. I push it away—the scent of her away.

She rubs her palms on her dress. “My parents have already packed. We’ll be out of your hair in no time.” She winks, trying to lighten the mood.

It’s that time of the year when we seem to change more often than not. We let ourselves run wild for longer and we find new people in the pack to bond with. But now that I’m older, I’ll also find more who will challenge me. I don’t have to worry about mates. No one wants to try to marry the murdering son of the king. They think I purposefully left Katarina to die. That they picture me as such a savage is the reason I hardly see anyone at all but Winnie. She’s truly my only friend.

My father says it’s good, that the pack thinks such a thing—it makes me look cold, strong. He says it’s better for our realm to have a lone wolf as King, anyway. He brings up our history and shows me the loners who’ve ruled before. He’s trying to help bring me back from the maudlin place I’ve been since Kat’s death.

Since I killed my own betrothed.

At first, I liked the idea of being alone. At least no more mates would have to die. But the truth is the bigger lie. I’m rogue. It’s almost unheard of in our lineage, but my father won’t ever let on to the pack the real reason why I left Katarina. Because it’s a defect.

And…if they found out…I’d never be king.

I rise and hug Winnie, so that she’s not too hurt by my rejection, but I hold my breath, just in case.

Winnie knows the truth. And she won’t ever betray me.

She pulls away to look at me and smiles, and I smile back.

Her eyes widen. “You’re looking a little long in the tooth, Noble.”

I close my mouth.

“Son!” My mother comes into the room. She frowns at our proximity.

I back away a step and she visibly brightens. “Winnie, your parents are waiting.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Winnie curtseys, sighs, and then looks me over. She’s worried about me.

A bunny. Worried about a wolf.

“Bye, friend,” I say.

“Take care of yourself, won’t you?”

What she means: don’t let the pack bring me down.