“What?”
The word ripped from Aurora’s throat before she could stop herself. Her eyes locked on the object resting just beyond the doorway...its glow was alive, almost breathing with her.
A pulsing, slow rhythm.
A predator’s heartbeat.
Her heartbeat.
She took a shaky step forward. “The black orb…”
The name tasted like poison on her tongue. Her lips trembled, but she couldn’t stop saying it, couldn’t unsee it.
Inside her, her wolf, snarled with violent urgency.
“The f*****g deal was to stay far away from the other half of the orb. And now? It’s so close, I can feel it syncing with your pulse. Step closer, and it’ll swallow you whole.”
Aurora’s palms were slick with sweat. The thing wasn’t just glowing...it was calling her, whispering to her bones, promising something ancient and dan
