lt sharper w

pull the blanket over herself. But when her eyes fluttered open, she wasn't met with grogginess. She

tisfying ache - but underneath

air filtering through the open window. It

ounded at

l predator's grace, but there was something different in her expr

said briskly. "Coun

stomach

Cou

a punishment," she added, s

bby's tongue. She hadn't asked for recog

- a louder part

girl who had stumbled into this life just a week ago. When she met Marla outside, the sun was high, casting l

oticed things she hadn't before - the way the wind carried scents across the ground, the

hed a stone

s. It looked ancient, time

sharp eyes, weathered faces, and the kind of presence

and a long scar across his jaw. His name was Elias -

in silence fo

nally. His voice was deep, carrying

said, her

survi

her

o something that was almost a smile. "You learned. You adapted.

emselves, the sound like dry

rd until he stood m

. "Do you know wha

n closed it. She thought of Marla. Of Jessa. Of the feral's snapping jaws.

an yourself. It means standing when no one else will.

fell over

wly, Elia

most," he said. "But und

m a stone pedestal: a narrow strip

ma

cl

ld it ou

ha yet. That must be earned in blood a

ly - not from fear, but from the sheer magn

ed around it, the c

ept

lle

st

bby stood tall before them, no lon

omething

hing

the wolf stirred an