ended in so

ause. N

ath Abby had chosen - or maybe

st a gnarled oak tree. Her sharp eyes softened a l

od," Marla

lity of it still set

ens now?"

a wry smile. "Now? You prep

. Abby shivered - not from th

tretching endlessly around them. Abby noticed how even the l

s - full-blooded pack members too. Dozens of them. Eyes followed Abby's every

rowd stood a figure A

gray eyes that looked like frozen smoke. He radiated authority - but

rdened the seco

under her breath. "Champ

ls?" Abby a

answer. She d

w, cruel - and spoke loud e

said, voice thick with amusement. "You earned

shifted,

ard, tossing somet

aun

bloodstained from

t, her hands cur

me?" she said

You survive three challenges, you keep your mark. You fail..." He

chal

omeone li

t she forced herself to stand taller,

pt," sh

ent throug

Good. First challenge is

arning, h

had ever seen, a blur

sending her spinning backward. Pain flared, but she stayed

he wo

Not eve

narrowed her eyes, a

sting her reflexes, her stamina. Abby blocked some blows, do

didn't try to win - she just stayed up, st

r lip. Her ribs ached. B

idelines - some cheering Calder, some Abby - but the noise blurred int

thing heavily, a flicker of someth

passed," he said,

rowd

l. She wiped the blood from h

ide, gripping her arm h

" she whispe

y knew

only the

another figure was waiting - someone cloaked in shadow

enemy was

dn't even reveale

would be far more t

a battle f