d began

remony. Not

ed with

ching outward from her chest, pulling gently, insistently, tow

ro

The forest felt different this morning. Not louder, not s

swal

sn't n

steps approached. She didn't n

Aeron said fro

m. "I felt you b

on tightened

ween them, heavy

ing a careful distance away

h dropped.

es

ound herself. "I didn'

mly. "This bond wasn'

worse, i

n't de

ty, and emotion together in ways that could either strengthen a pack

meant to s

es," Aeron sai

her gaze.

will deepen with proximity. Emotion

eath h

if either of us is harmed

ird?" she a

If the bond completes..

to longing twisted together in her

id softly, "sugg

ruth stretching between

knowing you," El

ked at he

ice steady despite the tremor in he

rotective flared in hi

und shu

ara stagger. Aeron caught her instin

their ski

r su

harper than before. Her vision blurred, t

er his breath.

r body moved wit

r hands trembled violently, nails lengthening, hardening. A low sou

tial

ring her with his voice. "Stay w

flashed s

it st

d. He wrapped his arms around her without thinki

he world felt p

ri

tears streaked her che

voice rough. "But the

pproached-f

flicking from Elara's altered han

rge," he said.

ly in front of Ela

His gaze lingered on Elara. "You'

r chin. "I don'

greed. "But t

landed lik

uded area under the guise of protection. Wolves whis

tched fr

e of the elders. "And when it comp

ned. "Then we must act

ands still trembling faintly. She felt Aeron nearby-alwa

d pulse

arn

rom

e shadows, betrayal

ion was swi

ing of the territory, a place reserved for those considered unstable or dangero

had

like distant thunder. Every step he took away from her tugged pa

s she was escorted away,

our safety," h

ose?" s

not a

anished from sight

er to her knees. She gasped, clutching at the

d, crouching besi

ooth, reassuring

ting it ground her jus

you?" Riven continued

angerous,"

agreed. "You

slowly, poison w

gh bonds," he said. "They

er head. "Y

r am I the only one honest e

he pain retur

oke scr

nes grinding beneath her skin. She staggered outside, c

, she did

ated, vision sharpening, instincts flooding her senses. The forest bur

aware of

f was e

Silver-white fur shimmered faintly under the moon,

paws, breath coming in

s i

r chest-not wild, n

erritory, Ae

s roar tearing through the fores

ever rea

m off with a wall of ancient magic. He slammed

hrough!"

expression grim. "You can't.

lie!" Aero

calmly. "Or are you too

her head, sensing him-feeli

nd scr

ging through it, she turned and ran-dee

hurt-but less

beyond the territory, her shift faded, l

ared from

" he said gently. "Leavin

d down her fa

es," he repli

nded hi

hesi

that had guided her throu

ier, blood on his knuckles, his howl ech

n smiled

zed the tru

forest shifted-not in sound or sight, but in intent. The ai

tincts

on

harply. "Where ar

remind her that she was no longer the one in control. "Some

burned at

aid of him,

No. I'm afraid of what

-etched into the ground, glowing faintly blue. The air

lled-muted, distant, as tho

spered. "What

iven replied calml

er-but beneath it, so

ci

ound t

, Aeron

ed once-then we

fro

he bre

the council chamber, eyes blazing, con

answer

n stepped

ted," he said. "Fro

slid free. "Yo

. "Ancient Wolves destroy what

n lu

g him back as the el

the eldest commanded. "Or you

rd. Slowly-deliberatel

g in his eye

he said quietly, "th

were not

ere a

ath shallow as memories flooded her mind-no

i

oo

e moon kneeling before

eamed dow

our weapon,"

ls flared

, unease flickering across

" he said. "Awake

owly, silver-gold ligh

he said-not accusing

tened. "I cho

chose

racked benea

wild, not uncontr

s did not des

jud

rier, Aeron felt a pulse

o

iled

rmured to the ni

bed higher, one trut

had not

nly been