g into a labyrinth of thorns and ancient bones. Every night, Aria could f

ng fo

one at the edge of a

g atop a fallen column like a hawk watching its prey. She didn't speak as the

ue?" Aria as

t kind. "Rogue? Cast-out? Mon

like someone who had forgot

s side, but Aria held her grou

right and cold-narrowed

letting the silver ma

d, nostrils flaring. Recognition-or somethi

the girl

o build something stronger. To make a place where none

ding in a crouch. She didn't shift, d

ispered about," she mut

itle before. It coiled around her, un

Riven," she said. "And I don'

Aria said simply. "Fi

n she grinned, sharp and savage. "Alright,

e air before Ar

a call o

a cha

of a dominant, a rogue alpha claiming territory. She could feel him

iven's grin vanis

face the trees,

later, he

black as pitch, devoid of anything but hunge

he packs-polished and proud. H

rowled, voice rumbling lik

e said, power thrumming in her

ull of teeth and malice. "Challeng

, stepping forward, silver

everythin

the rogue charg

oved f

lpha games. But she had instinct. Fire. A will t

t her hand forward-and the si

ckward, slamming him into the

g along the forest floor. The rogue trie

him, silver fire t

oken," she said, voice

no longer a girl, no l

e broken ha

tiful sound-and rolled onto his

gas

eyes w

lpha, her blood singing with

ll him. She d

read the wo

s had a

a ty

a bu

rn of ash

as only th