summit dawned

Academy in a steel-blue pallor. It wasn't just the weather. The air bu

cket embroidered with silver lunar threads, a mark of dominance and lega

I wor

wanted to. Bec

color of

pha Voss. And today, I was to stand

one of

oon's light was refracted by hundreds of crystalline shards. The ground was polished onyx. The sea

ir eyes li

hand and led me to the center,

t five central figur

ha Garrick Blackmoor, leader of t

, carved

hea of the Crimson Ho

rn of the Deadwoods, a

, whose names I didn't know but whos

k said, his voice lik

allenge the claim of Elara Voss. Born of betrayal.

d. "She earne

c," Thorn intoned. "Magic

Kieran said. "She bonded with

a said coldly. "We

they turn

ines an

ther's final comm

up at her

you o

aid. "I c

that Alpha Voss attempted to use Ecli

I was ten when he died. I only know the Counci

the unnamed Alpha to the far

her. She died

es, like carrion birds. Weighi

father," I

eyes narrowing. "But

t I also carry his strength. And

t the Circle decide. Alpha Kier

n't he

d

a long, tense moment.

y stands. But her bloodline remain

't," Kie

s in th

d, but the whi

olves stared. Some with

dange

tor-b

forbidde

slipped my fingers into

, I collapsed onto th

said quietly, sta

ze. "They st

rrected. "Which is wor

ou're okay with the

"I'm not okay wi

tretched

er, "But I'm not le

eath

, muttering, "Get some rest. T

ers an

, I dreame

h a burning forest. Behind me, howls

ice. Soft

rk, Elara. It wi

wake, hear

rk burned faintly, pulsing lik

ed to the mirror. My eyes

ttered. "Now

wing a symbol I hadn't seen before.

t g

ell on it, a soun

ng. Near

hed c

'll betray you. Jus

n. Nothing. Just cold

message

omething was

roken

rning, trai

dents sparred, fought, and ifted. The ranking tri

d of our group. As usua

"you'll train wi

couple g glances of j

ked. "Elara

f his jacket, revealing toned muscle and a fres

not to

hit me,"

a brow. "

. "Don't

did

He twisted, caught my arm,

I gr

ched. "

me, I almost

rd time

ith his ribs. He st

e lear

Or you're g

d closer.

s eyes, his scent, the r

e shattered

a Kie

an, one of Garr

ething at Ki

cro

"From Alpha Garrick. He d

face we

egret in his eyes, then

and Silv

ne, the Academ

cuum didn't

ach other openly. Fights broke

a new stud

n Dus

rcury. A rogue-born wolf, but his

e second day. Smiling

voice smooth as silk.

. "Do I k

d his head. "But ou

piked. "Wh

knows what the Council fears.

way. "You'

f why they're hiding the truth

, a broken pendant with the same

nished int

here, hea

my wrist pul

ng was