The air thickened with unease as the Blood Moon drew near, and every wolf in the territo

ensing danger before her mind could name it. She had meant to gather herbs for Elder Sira's old recipes ,

she was meant to b

herself against the rough bark of a gnarled oak, peering i

ized them

black silk. And beside her stood Draven Corven, Alpha of th

ed. "Kade's grown reckless. Bringing that out

in his crimson eyes making Aria's

g the Blood Rite. When all eyes are on the moon.

llen? The rogue mercenary

ed. "And th

e mine, and with it, the power to challenge the other pa

red in her ears. Sh

a hand clamped over her mouth, y

er," a low v

lver-streaked hair framed a face both rugge

hissed, struggling

er deeper into the tree

e den, he released her. Aria

" she spat. "You're

nst a boulder, arms crossed. "But you heard wha

snarled. "You'll betray

red in his gaze , regret? We

girl. But... you're not like the others. And yo

rying to protect the Alph

aryn. But if what I heard is true , if Elara's staging a coup with Draven's help , that means wa

demeanor, there was a man worn down

he said softly. "

him. "And risk having both

can stay and make things right. You

w clenched tight. The wind carried the

e, healer. But if we do this, it's on your head. If we

ng," Aria said, her voice ste

secluded alcove where an old, tattered tent stood. Inside, maps and scrolls were strew

case I need to disa

nt," Aria

nfront Kade. He won't move on suspicion alon

t it," Ar

ised a br

respondence. I've seen he

ave a better chance w

n't c

Alright, we'll slip in during the feast tomorrow. Eve

h. The plan was madness, b

ade pulsed like a live wire, tugging at her heart. She should have told him the mome

still weighed on her. He'd begged her to leave

t abandon t

e dreamed of the silver-eyed priestess again,

s buried will be unearthed. Choose

awake, hea

came t

gathered at the ceremonial clearing. A towering stone altar st

in dark leathers, his expression g

noticed, making her way to the east wing. Callen was

y, he

way

ed like

ifled through parchments, de

lding up a sealed letter sta

as she broke the seal

n. Callen will see to the fin

as e

the chamber, slipp

of the clearing, a sharp vo

... what ha

ar

by two

a. "I should have killed you the

"Don't be foolish, Elar

enary, Mire," she sneered. "Lo

side eventual

the letter aloft. "The pack wi

ashed. "We'll s

nstant, ch

od Moon beg