d not arri

d been running for miles. For a moment, she did not know where she was. The stone walls,

mory re

e power that had surged thro

Beneath her palm, something stirred-not a heartbeat,

me, she to

felt thinner tha

an, most not. Voices carried easily now, clearer than they should have been. Even from wit

sat up

too vivid. The smell of damp stone, of bark and blood and smoke from distant fires, presse

and breathed, reca

what teache

, the noi

ale beneath the retreating moon. Wolves moved through the clearing in their human forms n

e turned

nly. No

e felt

his presence steadying in a way she hadn't realized she'd come

't sleep,

plied. "Just...

though his tone suggested unc

ully to Elara before turning to Aero

ffened. "

gh for her to notice. "The elders," he explain

out

es

at her sides. "Do

aze. "You alway

steadied her. She nod

trance carved from stone worn smooth by centuries of use. Inside, th

lined with age and power. Some bore scars. Oth

r their collective gaze

f them said, his voic

e

akening," another elder ob

se it," Elara

st elder said. "That does n

pled through

de her. "She is un

yes snapp

der woman said sharply. "If she is what the

caught. "What d

r existence alters balance. Ancient

htened. "She is

But she will become one-wh

e Elara. Images flickered behind her eyes-shadows, fir

ayed s

hand at her back. The contact sent a strange wa

said firmly. "Pushing her

ce fo

again. "Very well. We will no

through Elara-b

main within the territory. Watche

't," Aer

she does, the consequences wi

ended with

e forest, Elara exhaled shak

ge," Aeron corrected. "

ly, without humo

for a moment. "

I feel... stretched. Like I'm b

aid. "And it will get wor

m. "You're not co

th lifted. "I was n

ther presence-one that stayed just at the

rned s

ay, arms crossed, his

eyes

ng cold flickered behind hi

e, replaced by

idn't r

n her, the Ancient W

now why, Elara understood on

uld not come

from those who

her before her mind

an wit

ing beneath her skin, spreading through her veins like molten light. By mi

ticed im

ck of his hand gently against her forehead.

forest where ancient stones formed a natural ring. Moss crept over them, thick

e?" Elara asked, h

ed. "We use it when young wolves

owed. "Bu

hed softly. "You

ave frightened her

nes, kneeling in front of her so they

tight, like it doesn't fit. I can hear things far away. Sm

slowly. "Do

apped open.

he clarified. "Fight for co

ky breath. "Wh

"You won't. Because

. Elara cried out, doubling over as the sensation rippled ou

gripping her shoulder

ed. Her heartbeat thundered in

said firmly.

e pain did not vanish-but it dulled, retre

ed, she coll

caug

rested against his chest, his arms firm around h

a

e whispered. "I

tly. "You have nothi

ching his face. "Does it ever

answer r

lly. "But not for t

knit. "T

e you," he said. "And when that f

tightened.

ts way," he said w

of his words s

pull she'd felt before, but something achingly human. A

frag

seen by either of t

expression carefully neutral as he observed the

ady begun, R

proached Kaelen, his tone ca

s are," Kae

iven said. "They fear Aeron

rowned.

," Riven said smoothly

d not ne

pat

staring at the moon as it rose-fuller, brighter than she rememb

n pulse

aintly silver bef

, clutchin

hing ancient an

ill fragile-tightened quietly, pulling both of them

ra like a tide sh

eyes closed, th

cognize-and yet knew intimately. Towering stone pillars ringed her, etched with sym

es k

nds of

ill, their breaths held as if the

she trie

voice echoed through the space-ancien

is

lves o

and overwhelming. She stepped

spered. "This

d-tall, cloaked in silver and shadow.

urned," he sa

ou?" Elara

n," he replied. "Be

ruck her li

gett

id softly. "

ene sh

her heart racing. Moonlight streamed through the tr

s not

his posture tense,

," he said. "Yo

hand to her chest. "I dr

r, kneeling in front of

"But it felt like a past lif

nt Wolves were not merely leade

not comf

d quietly. "It

aid bare. "I don't want to rule.

be Elara,"

no

resting his hand over hers. The contact sent a

he said. "No matter w

with unspoken emotion. Slowly, almost unconsciously, Elara

ened-the

f them pu

en stood before the eldest of t

Riven said. "It's f

yes narrowed.

Riven replied. "He will

li

d carefully enou

the elder murmured, "his

s head. "Unless w

s eyes slowly. "Do

, Elara

a presence, patient and waiting, coiled

he light creep through the forest, she un

d be her

eatest vul