Heart of Stone (Parts I & II)

The velvet touch of a courtesan's voice whispered, a deadly distraction before the plunge of a concealed weapon. But she needed no weapon. The darkness, the rustling branches, concealed her. From high in the treetops, her sneer bristled his fur. Sten's lips curled back in a snarl, fangs extended, as she continued to taunt him, her tone casual, as if discussing the weather. "I remember it quite well. Like it was yesterday. How many years has it been? At least a hundred, if I'm not mistaken."

He hadn't forgotten. How could he? The blood. The severed heads of his soulmate and firstborn son. A part of him died that day. He never fully recovered. Growling, he lunged at the tree, his massive paws snapping the lowest branches. She cackled, jumping effortlessly to another tree as his claws tore through the bark, and he began to slip. Carina was always slipping out of his grasp.

Dropping to the earth, he took off after her, following the sharp scent of pine needles. He zipped to the right, and just as quickly turned sharply to his left, nearly losing his footing. The near slip cost him precious seconds, enabling her escape. Mentally cursing, he reached out through the mind-link. Alistair, his Beta, was coming in hot. "Alpha! She ran across the highway! You have to check this out! You won't believe me!"

He sniffed for Alistair's scent. "What is it?"

"The nose don't lie. It's Adelaide. She's... She's back!"