âđč THORNE
â"Alpha, you need to come now."
âThe Gamma's voice was urgent as he intercepted me in the hall. I didn't ask questions; I followed. My boots thudded against the stone, each step heavy with the dread that had been trailing me since Althea woke up.
âAs we reached the eastern wing, her voice carried through the open doorâfirm, defiant, and laced with a pride that made Umbra howl.
â"Yet your Alpha marked me."
âUmbra pranced on his paws within my mind, his tail wagging with a primal, puppy-like yipping. She likes us, he echoed. She claimed us.
âThe door hadn't even finished swinging shut before Ivanna was across the room. She didn't move with her usual clinical grace as the High Delta; she moved like a woman drowning.
â"Thorne," she gasped, her hands reaching for my leather vest, her eyes searching mine with a terrifying, wide-eyed hope. "Tell me what she meant. Althea... she showed a mark. Tell me it's a trick. Tell me the Allied girl is lying."
