returned with

white. The cold sank deep, sharper than steel, seeping through

eath rising in clouds. The place where she'd collapsed the night before, where her power

body rem

battle in her sleep. Lucien hadn't spoken a word to her since he led her inside. He'd helped he

assed between t

dang

mu

ow what she w

it wasn'

-

or buzzed with a te

table. Maren flanked him, along with two others wolves Eira hadn't fo

o the room, silence follow

rn wilds. One region had bee

ed?" she asked

a side door, his expres

just outside the north

nsed. "

ze met hers

gue

. Coordinated.

seemed

here?" sh

tching. Lurking. Close enou

w?" she

ith Lucien, then spoke

blade on the table and un

"Waiting. Healing. Their truce with us has always be

e for you,"

. "I don't even know w

ne once held the strength to unite all packs. And

"Controls

d once. "Inc

ched. "I won

etter learn h

-

ra followed Maren

ined with iron racks, blades, and tools she co

, holding two wooden staf

ss dodgin

u'll lea

d one sta

r. They circled each other, Maren's movements sharp and practice

itating," M

not to break

out finesse. I

s in succession. Maren blocked the first two

ed. "Ther

ed. Every breath burned. But beneath the pain, something settl

hoi

-

into the corrido

come watch

efly over her bruise

it h

me. Said

he hits like a

l need to hit harder. The Ho

. "I don't want

. "You may not h

-

, the drea

e cracked beneath her feet. From the depths, something stare

hoed acros

run from the war.

nched in sweat, the sh

-

uldn't sl

ld knock. Something inside him burned, restless, gnawing. Whenever

d was f

fa

de

. Hadn't bitten her.

s wolf had al

longed

ned to

door cre

stand there all nigh

s jus

g on me?" s

nod

okay,"

kno

he lake. The red ey

ll. "Did it say

d I am

s breath. "You're dre

t is

ower, flesh, even time. Now it's more shadow than beast. But

es it w

t fears wh

ed forward

didn't

his hand. "Are y

their joined

losing you,"

between them, r

claimed me,"

nsed. "It'

she said. "Betwee

mitted. "It's the

why

ietly, "there's no going back. Not fo

hesi

"Maybe I don't

between silence and surr

-

e deepest stretch of forest, the Hollo

p it, carved with ancient runes g

ens," he

epped forward, bowing lo

a smiled, barin

om. Let her beli

, pulling out a burning

he whispered, dragging a mark in