The temperature around them seemed to drop. Every Bloodmoon Elite Guard took one synchronized step forward. Every Silver Fang warrior instinctively stepped back. Jason tried to pull his hand free. He couldn't.
Ryker didn't even look like he was trying.
"If you have no use for this hand..."
Ryker said quietly.
"...I would be more than happy to remove it from the rest of your body."
Orin practically purred inside his mind.
"Do it."
Ryker ignored him. Jason stared at the Alpha before him. Then... Slowly... His gaze shifted back to Julia. His heart shattered. She hadn't reached for him. She hadn't smiled. She hadn't even looked happy to see him.
Instead... She stood tucked safely against Ryker's side. Protected. Cherished. Loved. And for the first time... Jason understood exactly what
