border. Each step carried her further away from the only home she

ever for

ut. Draven had thrown her away. After everything they had shared-every

d her. The towering pines cast long shadows beneath the fading light. Somewhere behind her, the

dn't miss her. Not Draven. Not the pack. And if they

he barely heard it. Her mind churned, twi

le as falling for Lyria Blackwood? Or was the

ven matte

is choice. And she was done

e tall, straight pines near the pack's border gave way to twisted, ancient trees with gnarled roots that sn

sang. No leaves rustled. It was as i

k it off. Fear was a weakness. And she had

about these woo

fingers brushing the hilt of the silver dagger she carried.

elf. But even as she thought

Duskwind wolf's call. This sound was different-colder. A ch

let fear take hold. No one's comi

. Exhaustion gnawed at her bones, but she wouldn't rest. Not yet. She n

with it came a scent-s

oo

e wind carried the scent from somewhe

ward the smell, her hand tightening around her dagger's

ist. At the edge of the clearing, beneath the gnar

ma

of his dark shirt. His black hair hung over his face, hiding his fe

oever he was, he wasn't from her pack-his scent w

her breath, pressing two fingers to hi

ed to him? And

ned. His body tensed as if he were fi

eason to help him. But she co

artless as some wolves," she

the tree. His body was warm beneath her touch-too warm. Feve

ter onto a strip of cloth, pressing it to

nd why did it feel like this

lames casting flickering shadows across the clearing. The man's breathing grew steadier, though his

her dagger against a smooth stone. The rhythmic scrape of metal aga

Who was he? Why was he bleedin

mething about

is eyes blinked open-a striking shade of emerald green. They flash

nto her. Wild. De

keeping her voice calm and

th the effort. His hand darted toward his wa

er blade just enough for him to see

ree, his breathing uneven. "Who are you?" His voi

she said. "You're the one bleedi

ething between a smirk a

r eyes. "I could'

didn'

er problem. But maybe, deep down, she knew what it felt like

eling generous,"

eath, but his gaze never softe

ng to her feet. "Becau

ld feel his eyes on her, weighing her every move. He was weak now-but t

man to und

't told me your

stion flickering across his face. For a long mo

ae

in the air. No title

e said, "who tri

at his lips. "I've m

not an

s gaze sliding to the

st, but she pushed it down. Let him kee

uries were too deep-too precise-to be the work of

had a feeling this man was fa

ng out the last of her dried meat and

intensity he had shown since waking. Finally, he t

lcome," sh

crossed his face. "Yo

the mood f

y me-

rcasm was easier to hold onto than the ache still burning

av

words. His refusal to even meet her eyes. The wa

e man she would've given

never forgiv

d her back. "What'

d. "I don't ow

ght. "Fair enough. But I doubt you'r

words she wanted to say. He was

she said simply. "That'

el's face. "You don't strike

ould have. Vaela lifted her chin. "I

quick, but not quick enough for her

kled softly between them, and somewhere in the distance

id at last. "And you won't

pride flashing in hi

r dragging your unconscious body across a

weighing her words. Finally, he let o

"Come with me. At least until you're strong en

lightly. "You want

to survive," she said coo

ched again, heavy

ome with you. But if you t

y," Vaela interrupted dryly. "Trus

her. It softened some of the harsh edges of

mo

round. Vaela led the way, silent and focused, while Kael walked a few steps behind-

ld be," she said after a while, her

wer immediately

nd they both knew it. But

ing crept through her bones. The air felt heavier, c

the way his body tensed, his hand d

that?" Vael

clenched

was watc

it was, it

hrough the trees. Not a wolf.

is voice a low warni

ilt of her mother's dagger. Whatever lay

e shadows, som

n't lift. It clung to Vaela's skin, thick and heavy, as if the forest i

overed earth. For a man who had been bleeding out hours ago, he

me what you are?" Vaela asked quietl

t didn't reach his eyes. "You

y m

her-cool, assessing-

se, pushing her frustration down. Fi

llic scent crept back-sharp and unnatura

nsed, his shoulders tight with a

had left him half-dead was still

, walking faster. "I'm not dying i

tching her pace despite the

heavy canopy, leaving everything in murky shadow. The deeper they went, the stranger the forest

e woods before. They ha

tory anymore," she said, her

hin line. "Good. Your pack do

he didn't let the pain show. "I don't b

never wo

und like any wolf Vaela had ever heard-it was lowe

e sound, his body shifting su

a wolf," he

rawing her dagger. "I

fted in the mist, too far to make out clearly. But

er his breath.

rrupted magic. She had only heard stories. Wolves whispered that they were

asked, though her instinc

htened around h

nnatural-half-wolf, half-nightmare. Black tendrils of smoke leaked

't exist.

was h

lashing in the dim light. The silver blade caught the creature's shoulde

gh the mist like a shadow himself, his sword slicing cleanly through the be

ordered, his voi

and their growls echoed through the forest. For

beneath a clawed swipe, and drove her dagger deep into the next creature's chest. It fell

he beast with ruthless precision, sending it crumpling t

gasped, cutting down another

d grimly. "Or maybe-" He hesita

harder. "Why wou

t answer

stinct, raising her dagger-but this one was different. Stronger. Before sh

tench of rot and smoke burning her lungs. She strugg

rd pierced the beast's skull, sending it crumpling a

s voice was ro

her heart still hamme

r around them. Too thic

, glancing toward the distant ridge.

rgue. Togeth

he mist. Vaela's legs burned with the effort, her bre

ithout hesitation, she scrambled upward, dirt and loose stone sliding

s lingered at the bottom of the ridge-but they didn't follow. Their

" Kael said, his v

ed. But something inside her

d power. And for now, it

on easing from his body

shadows still watched from below. N

was

se creatures

el like this was o

t whisper through the trees-low a

sn't

n't know what lay ahead. But s

ren't finished