me heavy a

psing into a few hours of deep, dreamless sleep - the

n she was used to. This was a soreness that felt ear

hummed low u

side, the resort gro

lawns, winding trails, quiet lake

eb thirty feet away, smell the sun w

e in a way it had

as ready

l of eggs, wild greens, an

thout malice, tossing Abby

ind. They wound away from the main lodge, past manicured paths and yoga pavilions, in

re, but similar. Rougher. Raw. A ring of stones marked the p

with sharp, appraising eyes, and two younger figures - teenag

pped her

Instinct ov

nked. "M

eying new recruits, "you've spent your whole life thin

hed in Abby's

ild, hesitation gets you killed. In the

front of her, d

bby Stafford. You are a wolf in

nd, Marla threw somethi

ut even as her rational brain

air, stumbling back two s

roughly the length of

in her voice. "You're faster already.

who immediately lunged toward A

y had time

instinct rose hot and clea

out with the stick - a wild, messy m

step, grinning like she'd

with interest. No laughter. No mocki

tick, heart thunde

hed Abby's shoulder - not gen

lt for this

ust fo

was trembling, but not wi

side her the night before was growing,

she came to Wolf

ad come her

ed, sharp

ight," she said. "And

ping the stick ti

n years, she wasn't

dy for the