Alexei's POV

I jolted awake. A heavy, dark presence pressed against the thin fabric of the tent. My wolf stirred, baring his teeth in my mind. I threw on a shirt and hurried outside to investigate, my eyes scanning the treeline. At first, the camp seemed peaceful; the morning light was just beginning to break, and a few of my men were already awake, stoking the embers of the fire.

I turned to head back to the tent, but the air suddenly shifted.

A massive rogue lunged from the shadows, his weight slamming into my chest. He pinned me to the dirt, his hot, rancid breath hitting my face as...