again,"

nd his ribs. The room was small. A desk, a map pinned to the st

he said. "I know

ow

said it without looking at her.

toward the door. "

efore the packs had names. Viktor found the text. He twisted it. Instead of two wolves choosing each other, one wolf

wh

rist, where the black crack ran through his own mark. "Elara's husband, if you want to c

a ceremony like that even work? Bonds com

quiet for a

u have the rig

rned cold. "Wh

rwolf

ckered. Mira

only thing that made the fake hold." Kaelen's voice dropped.

sou

ed eleven years ago i

chains. The crowd. A man in white robes standing at the e

she whispered. "Aft

sor

ead. Her head swam. "That was my body. My blood. Every

rom you

. "So I built the cage, and

inish what they

s not

It is

ntinent, with red pins stuck in a ring around one northern city. At the cente

his ci

r. He keeps her as leverage over m

nt me to wa

u to help

n to face him. "What's in it for me, besides your protection? You've see

were a

am

ear keeps you alive. But listen, Mira. T

ha

." Kaelen stepped closer. "He's been looking for a living Silverwolf for ten years. If he finds you, he won't just kill

's a

You're the world's last chance to stay free. And if you help me, I swear I will tear down the

s face, looking for a lie. She found onl

sing to trust anyone. Eleven ye

o it,"

lders dropped

one co

me

. "A vial of your blo

drew toget

re to find you." Mira smiled, and it wasn't kind