a's

he window, the warmth of the hearth stood in sharp contrast to the chill invading the thin walls. Working on a fresh batch of herbs, my finge

t night's suffering felt new, as though no time had elapsed at all. Like an unwelcome shadow, h

nual reminder of the life I had once planned to create with Kaelan. They were my secret and my greatest delight. Their extraor

ttle dagger buried under my cloak automatically. The village was tranquil, and strangers were

lushed cheeks was there. Her voice quiverin

stent, I said, "Yes, that's

g frantically around the little cabin

sh for me? The Silverclaw Pack was a chapter I had considere

said, stammering. " Trouble exi

led on my back. Trouble

ere. "Rogue strikes," The pack is chaot

ssistance. It appeared almost too dreamlike. Years of hiding had gone toward trying to shield my sons from the darkn

Kaelan's call for aid might indicate that the pack was about to fall apart. Should th

g to slow down my rushing heart, I inhaled deeply. Though the fate of

emple, the secrets it housed, the prophecy I had heard whispers about. Though it

law land. The choice was terrible as well as freeing. I had to fac

d into their beds, the chilly wind stinging at my cheeks as I headed toward the Silverc

ea of the pack I approached. Pine and soil, once-famili

me as I approached the brink of the territory.

a," then stepped

to hide my nervousne

g it difficult to keep control. The pack has been rather restless lately. And there's some

cold. Her remarks appeared to bring the moniker S

s now a site of dark meetings and whispered anxieties. Kaelan stood in the middle, his face worn with tiredness and ir

friendly and inviting, the weight of leadership and remorse hardened h

worried I may vanish if he spoke too lou

y, attempting to keep my voice cal

s. The attacks by the rogue have gotten more severe. The gro

ow before I could reply. Tensing, the pack members stared wide with t

e sadly remarke

sumed was only a myth, a story meant to keep kids in line. If it was r

Unquestionably present, the Shadow King had a terrible aura like a

e have to move quickly." We have to defend the

urts and a fresh will. We had to face the darkness together

romised more than simply conflict: a reckoning. I came to see as the pack got read

d shadowed by our collective past. Still, we had to find a way to come together

ing loomed bigger. Our very survival as well as the st