every distant rustle of leaves, and every heartbeat thundering nearby. Her senses had sharpened

utched her stomach, but the pain only worsened. Kade walked ahead of her, silent and deliber

se asked, her voice har

top complaining," Kade rep

n she needed to indulge her temper. Whatever he was leading her to, it had to be better than

oon. At the center stood a stone altar, ancient and worn, surrounded by a circle of

his tone carrying a warni

ed into figures-men and women, their eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. Their presence was both p

ll man with dark hair and a scar running down the side of his face s

tepping between Elise and th

arp canines that gleamed unnaturally white. "You brought a str

ied, his tone even but laced w

rving. Elise glanced around, trying to piece toge

e could stop them, but the weight of their stares made her defiance bubble to the surface.

sneer deepened, but he didn't res

enric said. "She'll

u're not the one making de

ide, his growl low and simmering. Kade motioned for Elise to follow him toward th

Kade said. "Sh

fear hidden beneath the surface. "You carry the mark of the wolf, child," s

inked. "

ache inside you. It will grow stronger with time, and

't told anyone about the strange hunger clawing at her, b

n't?" Elise asked, he

ide you takes over, and you become nothing more than

her humanity, of becoming the very thing sh

I stop it?" s

on your terms. You learn to wield the wolf's power wi

e, but before she could press

begin the Rite

"We don't have time to ease her into it.

se asked, looki

been trying to weaken the Moon's Veil for years, and now they're close to succe

es told her it was real. The wolf, the mark, the Moon's Veil-whatever it all me

to make, Elise. You can fight this, deny it, and let the hunger destroy yo

sed to let it crush her. She squared her shoulders, meeting

I have

e Rite will test your strength and your will. If you succeed,

ome back," K

dds weren't comforting, but she had faced death before. T

his over wit

ound the altar. Kade handed Elise a small dagger,

u draw your own blood. After that, the wolf inside yo

e her roared louder now, as if sensing what was about

ood welled up, dripping onto the altar. The run

led, but she didn't fall. Her vision blurred, and the world around her seemed

earing. She stood in a vast, empty landscape bathed in re

low and guttural. Elise tur

e one that had attacked her. Its eyes burned with a feral i

f. This fight wasn't just for her