t here, Selene. Come closer

er eyes remained locked on the shifting crowd in the moonlit cleari

ow you. You think if you stay at the edge, may

cing her face into a neutral mask. "

g to reach through the layers of ice that had wrapped around Selene's heart for

hing as she looked away from the

ing to offer warmth. Then she murmured, "They're not the only ones watching tonight. The Al

ened. "Then I really

is hurts. I know watching everyone else shift, while you... don't. It bre

ply to her friend.

Then explain it

." Selene's voice cracked as she said it, and she hated the way it made he

n't kno

someone shifts near me, every time the moon pulls on their bones and

r shift. The girl glowed in the silver light, her transformation effortless. Her body twisted and shimm

ooked aw

ck her," she muttere

d. "Pick he

she impresses the Elders. They'll never pi

s sharp this time, fierce with frust

It's what they call me when I'm not around. It's what they whisper in

pened, but no

tterly. "Yeah. Yo

a beat. "But I never believed

Selene spat. "He can't even l

guilt creeping i

, "that if I don't shift by next moon, he'll send me away. Said

ed. "He s

ded. "Word

talk t

I don't need a babysitter. Or a

ed drumming on the old oak logs, and several wolves were dancing, half-shifted, their limbs fluid and wi

el whole. The night my wolf would rip through me and roar so loud the whole forest wou

gripped her hand. "It

her head. "It

hen we're ready. Some wolves shift at ten. Some at

elene said bitterly. "That's what Alpha Caelum

lashed. "That

elene's voice dropped. "Strengt

ene said, almost too softly to hear, "

he'd been struck.

e the strongest, most promising wolf I know. But people talk. They say I'm holding you

ed. "Then screw t

s eyes

em say whatever they want. I don't care if they never give me a t

time in months, something inside her stirred. Not her

und broke the air, shouting. Con

h turned

n?" Selene aske

through the trees, panting

yes widene

s. Then he just... dropped. Th

Selene's ha

t suppo

ing about that

ring where a circle had formed. The Alpha lay in the

ra demanded, pushin

We think it's poison. Something

ath caught i

changed worried glances. A sense o

n the Alpha?" so

rtain: "It's an omen. A bad one. Too

e fli

rked. "There's no room for rum

knew, somehow, without proof, they wou

go," she s

r sharply. "No. D

t belon

hter. "You're not the cause of this. You'r

Alpha, his body pale, stil

trees, something moved. Some

he chill run

didn't h

something e