PTE

infact. She had no way to ask if her

y pushed some of the co

Her pack was blown to smithereens by that bastard ro

re

.

ose from her cot before the first light crept through the narrow window. Her muscles ac

stood by the northern wall; arms folded. Cassidy and Rilka flanked him

enna could hear. "Bring me the pelt of the Black Stalker before

that roamed the Ashenwood borders-fierce, fast, nearly invisibl

Alpha," Raven

assidy sneered. "Good luck, little

e's hand grazed her shoulder. "T

accompanied her, weapons drawn but wary. The forest was quiet-too

wled one guard, B

r skin. She glanced at her companions: strong, confident, wolves born

her guard, Merek, said. He knelt, s

footprint. It was large, but not as big as a fully grown Alpha's. Slender.

air-wild, haunting, echoing acr

rrowed. "That'

s the trees grew gnarled and the shadows darker. Ravenna's senses sharpened. She

erek stiffe

ight-coated wolves with yellow eyes. Ban

n roared, rai

lunged forward, grabbing a fallen branch and swinging it at the first sc

precision. They struck down the scouts in seconds

ingly respectful. Merek nodded. "You h

from her coat. But there was no time to bask in pr

press

rozen ravine. The prints ended at the lip of a cliff. Ravenn

Merek said softly. "W

enna-stay here. T

shed. "I'm not a p

ce in his head: Trials can forge true

rek spotted a flicker of white in the mist

e electricity before a storm. She sm

eyes like opals, perched on a fallen

sun glinted on her pure white

t as a shooting star-d

wolf landed, claws slicing the air. Ravenna blocked with

ircling. Ravenna's mind raced. The

on Ravenna's. She froze. The wol

esitation, Merek lunge

but through them. Li

sed. "Sh

avenna. "Your fau

despite the blood pounding in h

her, not be toyed with. We should head

returned without the pelt, she w

pping forward. "I can

And what do yo

harp breath. "I'

nce

low and mocking

flicked to M

t, neither

avine. Below, mist swirled-l

risk: a fall, a savage kill,

n's pull-her wolf's heart

ing," s

ht. "You'll die." He

I'm worth it."

stop her, she step

art dr

The howl of the Black Stalker rose around her as white

ainst the cliff as e