't come fro

nds with you when the world

ient wars, where no pack claimed territory and no Alpha ruled. The air was

ere monsters

ere legends

rfe

m clouds. The girl-my mate, whether I liked it or not-walked beside me now instead of in my arms. He

t given me

dn't

power was dangerous th

ore," she said quietly

ded. "

ou were

I was never officially exiled be

ay. "You don't act like som

plied, "that survival re

orest

sto

ger-reco

all carrying scars that spoke of battles survived and loyal

y kn

in my body wen

," I o

y di

red man with burn scars down one side

en waiting

olf s

ing fo

or

l sigils. These were rogues-but not the feral kind.

w who I a

d. "Kael. The bastard.

t a ripple th

. "The council will kill

n with silver-threaded braids and eyes sharp

beside m

e you?"

ked up, meeting my gaze with

"Exiles. Broken Alphas. Failed h

est ti

id you

The Moonbeast's cry carried

ad alrea

aled s

wing this ends one of two ways. We over

esita

d their he

rest sh

e shift. Something ancient stirred beneath the

asked for

te didn

stand,"

ey

bond

closer to me. "You

ed. "I'm forming

d before

indly anymore. We found refuge in the ruins by nightfall-stone structures half-swallowe

my blo

tepped inside,

d to life with

nto the walls-marks I und

owed hard. "This place

embers,"

ened. "This was

kind," I

t fel

a broken table, eyes

ip wasn't

was

ights," I said. "They'll send mercenar

rmur

the braids said. "We've

most

ands on the

lion," I continued. "

t their

on fear, blood purity, and erased truths. T

red man k

us be your

d flared

ething lock

beneath the

rom deep within the Wilds. Shapes emerged from

og

tca

xi

without bei

cause somethi

breathless. "They'

y. "They're answerin

there were

nearly a

a p

fac

uncil had never

always dema

when the ai

nto the ruins, heavy

yone

e shadows-tall, composed,

Alpha

lo

ra

arro

counting faces, measuring

lmly, "the bastar

pped f

ied. "That means you're eithe

s curved

o offer yo

moved to

flicked to he

said. "Come with me. I w

len

I refuse?

's eyes

leash the P

hit like

followers

leaned

start wi

bond

ruins

-slow and

e already lo

moment he t

opped being

came p