Vanc

lanced through my skull, and for a moment, the world went gray. But then, as the last echo of Zane's prese

xt. It was time for a final purge. A ritual

my door interru

There's a visitor for you in the main hall,"

itor?

knew I was here-or so I had thought. But as I followed th

f Elder Alaric, the most revered figure in the Blackwood Pack. Alaric had been my mentor in herbol

you." He held out two items: a thick, elegan

"How did y

essence. A bit of old magic for an old friend. He insisted on delivering it personally." His expression softened. "But this,"

The first piece of jewelry Zane ever gave me, a simple silver pendant. A smooth, gray sto

hings are changing in Blackwood. There are rumors... about a

aric's eightieth birthday celebratio

mind at war with itself. To go back was unthinkable. But to refuse was

lackwood gear I had kept-buzzed softly. The encrypte

whisper. "Things are a mess here. The Alpha is planning to put that Croft woman in charge of the Moonspring Valley command. The warr

aw, another she-wolf I had once considered a friend. Her tone was

hould really come back before you do something you'll regret. The A

fied everything. Faye knew my number because she had been my second-in-command for year

bold, audacious idea. Alaric's birthday party

the entire Blackwood Pack to see me again. Not as a ru

see me as

I would not go alone, and I would

tion held firmly in my hand. He looked

nd clear. "I've decided to attend