a's

neath the old bent ash tree where my mother used to hum songs to me, long before everyt

danced through the leaves. My mother used to sing it on warm nights when the

is," a voice s

rous-but she didn't look normal, either. She wore a dark robe, the end stained with earth and as

said in a

mpfires and whispered behind her hands. They said she lived b

st and a strange flash of warmth.

ith memory. Lira Blackthorn was brave, stubbor

's gone." "No, she's not,

and pulled something from her coat: a small, burned picture. She

glowed with memory. My parents stood side by side, smiling. My mother held a

ather. My breath hitched.

age said. But not lost. You'

make sense. Why would Kade's fa

n't uncover them all at once. For now... survive. Before I could

n. My fingers shook. Why was my family with Nig

n't stay here. I tucked the picture into the inside pock

loomed like a scar in the fading light. I hadn't even gott

racing in my chest. Marcus always looked at m

sed me. He stood by the window, his arms be

" he said wit

..

e like chipped ice. "Celeste is throwing a f

twisted.

"When you get there, make sure you smile. Bow. Don't spea

o hands folded behind h

you're quiet and pretty, they'

t move. Not in front of him. Th

ghter. Silver plates. Polished floors. C

er lips curved into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Ar

ark clothes edged in gold. He didn't l

pour wine or collect empty plates, his eyes found me

ate

raised her glass. "To alliances," she said, her v

head down, my hands shaking. "You look like a ghost," I

ick look. "Hold on. Just a lit

o Kade. My breath caught. I sta

Then slowly, his eyes flicked down t

oment, something passed over h

t his side. "Darling," she purred, slipp

her voice sharper. He tore his eyes from mine

Sage's words echoed in my mind:

ked at it like it held answers he wasn't ready for

d out the back of the packhou

it was Ivy. "Come with me,

m the noise and lights. We stopped near th

king," she said. "They'

tfangs are hiding something too. And Kade-he'

ok her head. I don't know, but it's not just reject

and showed it to her. Her eyes widen

act

re part of something they kept hidden," I said in

d out what." I nodde

your strong sui

ne, but it was deep, ancient, and it wasn't from any wolf I knew. "Ivy," I

then I knew: the ghosts weren't just in my head. They