al creatures, but none of them fazed her. She had wandered these lands before, once as an outcast, now as something else entirely. Though she had been cast o

ian Highlands. But strength invited conflict. Power made enemies, and sooner or

t have to

ps of warriors returning from patrol. Their steps were heavy, their breathing uneven, and

ne of them muttered,

tried to stop him, but once the rogues had him s

s, spoke next. "His wounds are deep.

hell is t

y. We need

This was the moment sh

h practiced ease, she remained unseen, nothing more than a shadow among the towering trees. When they neared the gates,

dark trail on the ground, a stark contrast against the pale moonlight. Around them, other pack m

Kael e

into his face. His silver eyes swept over the injured warrior, narrowing at t

Stop the bleeding

itated. "But, Alpha...

jaw c

y. "If he dies, we burn the rogues

owd. It was a declaration of vengeance, a

t bring back a dead soldier. He could order bloodshed, but de

the only o

walked in now, they might turn her away again, their desperation not yet outweighing their distrust. But if she waited until the moment of abs

he w

to stop the bleeding were futile. The warrior's heartbeat grew weaker, his labored breaths ragged

eard the moment she

someone shouted, their

was h

, emerging from the

n sav

thered wolves. All eyes turned to her at once. The same woman they had cast out

sion unreadable. For a long moment, there was o

stepped t

is voice dangerously low. "

admitted. "But I also told you I was a hea

man, whose breaths were coming in weak, ragged gasps. The warriors surrounding h

etween them. Then, finally,

, "and if he dies

ng beside the dying warrior. His skin was pale, clammy with sweat.

feeling the warmth of his blood ag

ngs she didn't have. The wolves around her weren't healers; the

was not

he warrior's wound, a strong ha

ed in her ear, fil

are you pla

nds grabbed her from behind, yan

uggle before another voice

her

a

ning her loosened, and she stumbled forward. Sh

able, but there was somet

e reluctant c

his atte

wouldn't