"Think of your pack, Alpha Biansky," I pressed on. "Think of the future. We have already lost too much to let hatred guide us now."

His jaw clenched, muscles twitching with the effort of restraint. For a moment, it seemed as though the shadows themselves held their breath, awaiting his response.

"Very well," he finally conceded, the words forced from him like surrender. "For Paul, for the future, I will hold my wrath. But my patience has limits, Luna Queen."

"Thank you," I acknowledged with a ...