Forest,

i's

one. Others are burned into yo

______

self, leaves shivering like parchment pages ripped by misty fing

ght itself clung thickly with pine, wet moss, and something more-something just

Sentinel of the Drowmere Pack, I had learned to fade in the trees, to read the language o

iet. An unfamiliar

the air. Not animal. Not human. Smoke or memory. It wrappe

e sigil of the Blood Vow. It glowed softly, as it alwa

pri

make me his mate. A union of politics. An ancient agreement. A fat

stirring began. A restlessn

apped to

, cloak coming behind like ash. I slid across the river with well-oil

saw hi

or. His clothing tattered, he clung to

ma

the q

rs away before they come. And yet, here he was-g

aid, voice cold, cutting thro

ot because he was scared, b

His voice was gravelly, like some

g my golden eyes blaze ju

Elipha

orld

in old legend, in songs

atching the stumble in his ga

ust... wea

ear

nly, eyes on trees, moo

e you don

e. "I didn't intend this. I followed... something.

"Dreams led you int

was a kid. This fore

fro

M

he said quietly. "

in years, I didn'

rm-gray and almost silver-were too flawless. Not wolf, not hu

aid, looking at the rip

sort of animal.

My gut

ed to

t? W

And if Kael gets his ha

he sai

, digging my fing

t sound t

m n

y stride definite, his reluctant. I didn't sh

Even as a kid, I used to have dreams about wolves and moons

was it

hel, pulled out a creased dr

at burned unde

n't be,"

about it sin

nless. The moonlight thic

ing-she'd thrown

ming with

wh

have to hide. If t

'll k

riously. "They

mouthed an elder magic word. Forest shimmered with lig

ed bewi

a how this is,

matte

n together. Behind us, fores

, war dru

lated a d

ocess... gene

_____