dow. Adrian landed first, his movements impossibly fluid for someone o

ers beneath the pale glow of the moon. Elena shivered, clutching her arms

anything, are you?" she ask

hout looking back. "We need di

stomach twisted. She glanced over her shoulder, half-expecti

tep beside her. "Stay close. The pack

her spine. "What are they?

-creatures cursed to exist between forms. Most nights, they're

d heard in the house, heavy and deliberate. "

're lucky it wasn't all of them. Once the p

she muttered, dodging

h the canopy of tangled branches. Adrian moved with purpose, his strides sure and ste

h about them?" she aske

ole life," he said simply, his ton

r," she pressed. "Ar

es locking onto hers. "If I were,

looked away. "I don't kno

. "That means you're starting to u

Elena's attention to the side. She fr

hispered, her v

stay quiet. His head tilted sligh

accompanied by the faint c

ting into something more predatory. "Stay behind

ugh Elena's veins. The creature stepped into the moonlight, its massive form half-hidden by the sh

e's scouting for the others. I

urled into fists.

et it call

uld respond,

was standing still, and the next, he was grappling

tried to break free. Adrian twisted, slamming t

frozen in place. The wolf writhed, its growls

. His amber eyes glowed faintly, their

d?" she asked

clipped. "But it won't be

rd. "We need to keep moving. The re

o follow him. Questions burned in her mind, but th

designed to confuse and disorient. Adrian led he

o a small clearing. A firepit sat at its cen

said, crouching to inspect th

and her mind spinning. "Rest? Are you serious? There

," he said sharply, lighting a fire with practiced eff

ue. The warmth of the fire seeped into

yes reflecting the flames. "You'r

. "What's that su

what," he said. "But you haven't as

"Because I'm a

oftening. "Because of who

h to the gut. "What does my f

ancestors were tied to this place, to the Howlboun

this, didn't he? That's why he was s

ind a way to break the curse. To e

htened. "Did

e got close. Close enough to

"And now they've turned

ot powerless. You can fight back, Elena. You

suffocating. She thought of her father, of the jou

f I don't?" she

an said bluntly. "And yo

he finality of his s

decision tonight. But know this: the pack won't s

st to the chill in the air. Elena stared into the flames,

she felt the faintest flicker of resolve. Whatever the