"Alpha!” The figure who had been with us sounded astonished, as though even he hadn’t expected Adrian to return.

Adrian looked a mess, his clothes torn, his hair darkened with streaks of black, and injuries marking his skin. Behind him, his beta followed, bruised and battered. Had they fought the beast? Had they actually managed to subdue it? My curiosity burned to know what had happened.

He took a few strides closer, but before he could speak, the figure beside me broke in.

"I told her ...