ot return to nor

d its

nd moved cautiously through the leaves, as though afraid of drawing her attention. Wolves stood scatter

ted th

the storm still stirring beneath her skin. Their hands were no lo

rok

," one of the elders said

oments earlier, did not look away from

d through the g

ce pale. He looked older somehow, the confidence

ed toward

ew," sh

lowed. "I

ircle would

ied honestly. "But that

ed. "And that f

es

ll heavy an

ce low with restrained fury. "

ering across his face. "Neithe

ed sharply-ho

, grounding herself before it cou

e fell

ecause I believe this world can change. B

slowly. "Then help

hesi

ight of what she was being asked-not to fight, not to submit,

ut I remember enough to know that Ancient Wolves we

s exchanged u

emanded blood?" ano

inching. "Then blood was give

sely, pride and conce

issolved with

more than open ho

edge of the territory, staring into the darkening forest.

ed quietly. "Y

haled.

stripped the c

es

didn'

esolute. "Because the moment I rule through f

a long moment. "That r

softly. "Everythi

silence, the bond pulsi

ron sti

it?" sh

riefly. "Scouts on t

arpened insta

said. "

her full

nte

es

ied history s

continued. "Closer than the

Wolf stir-not in rage

old them,"

tened. "Or somet

rest, a horn sounded-

nt had

ealized, had just

n sound

r thi

less in a place that had swallowed armies whole. Wolves emerged from the shadows in s

felt i

fe

an

hu

er-older-measuring the threat

imly, appearing at Aeron's other side. "Th

Aeron replied. "Or som

nfolded beneath her senses like a living map. She felt iron traps buried under lea

n hu

eig

ck, heart steady, br

lara said quietly. "The

sharply. "That mak

thick in the air. One of them hissed un

Elar

heads

lder snapped. "Humans do not come

nswer mercy with slaughter, we confir

til now, spoke from the back. "Th

"Then let them see

ing like shame flickering

rdened. "Th

s voice. "If you reveal yourself to them

w," sh

hat knowledge back t

e interrupted softly. "Let's se

orward-past the edge of the territory, past t

t seemed

h and followed immediately.

flared in

pproached the hunters' clearing. The humans froze when they saw them-

shifte

the Alpha wolf emerged-massive, dark, and terri

stayed

r

threaded with gray, his posture rigid with discipli

s voice steady despite the fear in his

led low in

not retreat. His gaze sl

n his eyes-recognitio

ra said calmly. "Y

slowly. "The Mo

sh f

ath caught

n spoken in centuries

ot with pride, but with s

dropped. "That's no

en it fears powe

were told monsters ru

?" Aeron

jaw tighten

e shat

went

utting through the darkness unt

head immediately

tly. "But someone who be

ing dawned

ers stepped ba

ower surged-not wild, not uncont

not come fr

rom fear wear

everal dropped to one kn

are not our enemy," he said hoarsel

At the wolves who watched from the s

rs," she said. "Bu

e across th

w," she

y rose-full, si

aring knew the balance of t

ers did

resonated far beyond human comprehension. She had not raised her

s ready to strike-but she stopped him, her hand brushing his arm. A spark of the bond

eeting her gaze with unsteady determinat

aid. "You alway

ng subtly, while the older men and women maintained rigid postures. Fear and reverence inte

dy but layered with the weight of centuries. "A world where balance has been maintained

ven the wind seemed to pause,

is bow lowering unconsciously. "We... we mean

arried centuries of fear. "Then listen," she said. "And remember. Do not tell lies about

ion. One elder whispered urgently, face pale. Their eyes darted tow

yal was subtle, yet the human hunters had come prepared because

s raised slightly in an att

d eyes fixed on hi

ncient Wolf inside her hummed with unrelenting awareness. She could feel every heartbeat, ever

hand on his chest. "Control," she whispered. The bo

. It was an unspoken understanding: the balance of life here was not theirs to disrup

ing. "We will leave. And we will speak o

ly truth. And warn others: the forest

rs behind her lowered their hands, whispering to one another, fear and awe mixing in their expressions.

im slowly, the power of the bond allowing her insight into his mind. "You almost co

s head. "I

ghtly. "See it. Learn it.

r shoulder. "You did more than survive," he said, voice

over. Humans will remember. The council will remember. And the bond.

. "Then we g

ng, and a shield. The Ancient Wolf within her stirred, acknowledging him fully. For the first time

uld wield more power than betrayal-but the consequences of his actions would no

er above the forest, one undeniabl

t Wolf had

Aeron had begu

man and wolf, would ne