Vanc

s Blackwood, a territory of lies and heartbreak. To my right was the unknown, an enemy pack le

no choice.

creek. I walked through the shallow, rushing water, the cold seeping i

acce

my story. He simply turned, his broad back a silent invitation to follow.

st changed. The air was crisper, the woods wilder, less tamed th

s I had left behind. This was a modern structure of dark wood, steel, and vast panes of g

the main building, Sterling warriors stopped what they were doing, their eyes locking onto me

rior with a shock of red hair stepped forward, his arms crossed over his ches

voice never rising. "This is

oin us? She reeks of Blackwood. How do

ility was a palpable force, pressing in on me from all sides. They were

without flinching. Lyra was coiled tight insid

he turned his amber eyes to me. "In the Sterling Pack, r

d, my voice q

ld hear. "Then we follow the old ways. A trial by combat. Elara

the sound echoing in the sudden silence. He clearly saw an ea

en wearing when I left Blackwood-leaving me in a sim

una to be protected. They'd forgotten that before him, I was a fighter. They'd forgotten that I w

ad for

o pummel me into the dirt. I didn't try to meet his charge head-on; that would be su

t he was slow. An

ving and dodging, landing quick, sharp kicks to the back of his knees and jabs to his ribs. They weren'

expression unreadable but his focus intense. He wa

ing wilder. He overextended, leaving himself

e air rushing from his lungs, I didn't hesitate. I was on him in an instant, my knee pressing into his back and the

red, their mouths agape, at their fallen champion and the lone s

, brushing the dust from my pants. I

uised admiration. He began to clap, a slow, steady rhythm. One by one, his warrior

is voice ringing out ac

this day forward, you are a