The shadow mark pulsed beneath my skin like a second heartbeat, dark veins spreading slowly up my arm despite my healing magic's attempts to contain it. I sat on the edge of our bed in the safe house, trying to hide the tremor in my hands as Dante paced in front of me."You're not fine," he said, stopping mid-stride to face me. "I can feel your pain through the bond, Luna. That wound isn't healing properly.""It's just shadow magic. It'll fade." The lie tasted bitter on my tongue. The darkness wasn't fading—it was growing stronger, whispering promises of power that made my chest tight with longing."Show me.""Dante—""Show me." His voice carried the quiet authority of an Alpha, but underneath it, I heard something else. Fear.Reluctantly, I pulled back the sleeve of my shirt, revealing the woun
