on high alert. The weight of the prophecy had never felt heavier. She had been raised to lead, to be an Alpha. But the doubts gnawing at her-

gh the canopy, casting long, eerie shadows over the forest floor. Lana's breath came in shallow bursts as she tried

as. But even he couldn't mask the growing sense of urgency. The rogue wolves were out there, waiting for th

t words again, echoing in her mind. "The Blackwood heir will awaken her

wanted peace, to live a life free of the expectations placed on

ough her thoughts, low and comm

eel them-feel their eyes on her, watching from the shadows. T

ady. Lana braced herself, her claws extending. The air seemed to t

n they

nnatural hunger. They were massive-hulking, beastly figures, their forms shifting between wolf and man, muscles rip

is voice a harsh rasp. He was older than the others, his face scarred and w

to her palms as she faced the rogue. "I have

cold sound that sent a shiver down L

. Kian moved to intercept, but Lana wasn't fast enough to

red in her ears. Her vision blurred,

ovements slowed, his wild eyes searching the empty space where Lana had stood. She felt the power surge within her,

the brush. Every part of her was consumed by the

ogue leader who held her attention. He was still scanning the area, his confusion

invisibility breaking just as her hand tore through the rogue leader's

echoed in h

Her claws sliced through the rogue's flesh with deadly precision, the rogue leader's resistance faltering as she st

t there was no fear in her anymore. She was alive with power-power she had only just be

ensing the loss of their leader, surged forward with renewed ferocity. La

s outn

lone. Her power was still new, still raw. She was still learning to control it. T

t. Lana staggered back, her breath ragged. Blood seeped from the woun

ed somet

anished as quickly as it had come. She could feel the rog

th the pulse of the forest. The trees whispered, the wind howled. She could hear the rogue wolves' movements, each step, each breath. She was

warning, Lana va

a blur of motion, as though she were a shadow that could not be caught. She

ch strike cutting through them with ease. Their confusion worked in her favor as

again. But this time, it

of the rogues crumpled to the ground. The rogue leader lay motionles

ice filled with respect and s

le lift, but there was no victory song in her head. Only a quiet realization th

her pack had o