d at the center; its massive frame illuminated by the faint moonlight. Behin

here. Despite the fear clawing at her chest, she couldn't look away. There was something a

is Kael's doing? Had he sent them? Or we

d her out of her thoughts. She

s voice, low and u

unlocked the door and pulled it open, her

" she said, point

it, his expressi

they want

said, closing the door and lock

any better," she snapped.

through his hair. "Because

ce. "The hunters? You mentioned them before, but y

been after my pack for decades. Most of the time, they keep their distance

they're here?

of it. And your arrival ha

n't sure why. "Why me? I didn't even know

Lena. A darkness. It's like blood in the water t

"So, what? I'm some

"You're a spark. And if we're not careful, you

ou want me to leave, just say so. But if you think I'm going to sit here while a pack o

ing the small room. "Leaving isn't an

d. "What's that

" Kael said. "If you run, they'll follow. And i

pine, but she refused to let him

window. "We fight back. But to do that, you

I supposed

ve to meet

ent. She followed close behind, her senses on high alert. The woods felt ali

he whispered, her breath

e the pack gathers. They need to see y

ens if they do

ression unreadable. "They wil

his tone ma

ead, Kael led her to a sprawling network of old ruins hidden deep in the forest.

t of earth and something wilder

. Wolves emerged one by one, their movements fluid and deliberat

e commanding. The wolves stilled

rity that sent a chill down her spine. "She's under

o Lena. She felt their eyes on her, heavy and penetrating,

ture with piercing yellow eyes-steppe

whispered, he

e wolf with a single gesture. "E

teeth but backed aw

y, his gaze steady. "They want to see i

giving way to anger. "I didn't ask for an

re. And if you want to survive,

grew darker. "The pack accepts you for

Lena asked, exhaust

"The hunters won't wait long.

e her. "And what about me? What am I supp

e to me. The pack will protect you, but only as long as you stay

t the look in his eyes stopped her. There was a

whisper. "But if this is my fight now, I

respect in his gaze. "Y

e, a sharp, metallic scent hit Lena's nos

na asked, her s

d and touched the ground, his fingers b

oo

the tree line. A symbol had been carved into the

ion darkened.

distant howl pierced the ni

ers had