circled wit

ard. Frost crunched under her boots as she slowed, Mira's small weight warm against her side. The

pered, more to herself t

ept w

r, their trunks scarred with marks that felt deliberate, not wild. The wind carried a sharp

moved to

a st

elves," she

color of winter steel. Then another. And another. The

ged

htened, shoulders squared. The bond stirred faintl

aim," Elara said. "

passed through the pack. Whispers brushed

pr

an e

ng... d

ke. Her silver eyes fixed

," she

ves sti

t one dipp

xhaled

ing a narrow path

," Elara s

it for permiss

d off, leaving behind pain she could no longer ignore. Every step sen

alf-hidden beneath snow-dusted branches. Smoke curled lazily from

stv

wed, sens

another step, a man

k loosely. A scar ran from his temple down to his jaw, old and heal

he sai

a st

to Elara. Something flickered ther

s," he continued. "Give me on

enly. "Because I won'

a moment longer, the

la

wai

not of

tveil," he

out checking i

e

h a fire and clean water

ng softly. Elara sank onto the edge of the bed, muscl

e tray down and watched as Elara stood

ave to perfo

," she

d her portion with enthusias

nst the wall. "Yo

mouth

e forest reacts to you. Wolves liste

d. "I don't

rely wants

e stre

id at last. "She carri

ened around her cup.

e sharpened

id not

"You can stay.

nk y

bonds," he continued. "Whatever you ran

, eyes steady.

moment longer, then

f silver light breaking through darkness. She woke wit

beside her, one smal

losed h

Not

s hand gently unt

pas

d herbs, helped repair stone walls. She spoke little

stronger. Not in bursts,

and slow, Rowan found her traini

you expect an a

d

om

h misting in the co

arms. "You won't o

't int

forming, then retracting smoothly. Power hu

changed. "That cont

ost something," E

e. "Royal blood

ped up. "What

e calmly. "You

nce, sharp and

softened. "The

inue, pain slammed t

d, stagge

ond f

t. Dem

r before she fe

me," Elara

is knees as the bond sna

t, then to her stomach instinctively. Mi

him take you,

d. "Then Frostveil w

slowly, pain burn

said. "I w

e ridge, carrying with it

ins, a former Alpha began to un