ad never fel

the sounds of their pack howls, rustles, and sof

ad spread like wildfire. Some wolves lo

. Not after hearing the woman

key. One path will bring

e chamber, sweat-dren

the horizon, she found herself in Maera's private study. The Luna was alre

again," Maera sai

aid I had a choice to make." Maer

-they tempt. What you saw... may be truth.

stand. Who was she?"

ng. Banishéd for practicing forbid

a met her in the training circle later that morning. He was sharper

the White F

d. "Yeah. But I've been trained for this

and train me properly."

's instincts. She sparred with Luca, hunted with the scouts, even tracked through illusions conjured by Maera herself. Her body transformed. So did her mind. Bu

g me?" The wolf's mouth didn't move. But Aria heard the ans

wshade. A silver hawk delivered the message-etched in

s to appear before the Eclipse Tribunal. Refusa

shifted twice!" someone yelled. "They'll tear her apart,

said. "But not alone."

her." Mae

er heart plummet. Whatever the Tribunal was, s

the Emberpine Thickets-a haunted forest known to devour travelers with illusions and rage-born

ed. "They say the Thickets

nes that pulsed with calming energy. Around them, whispers crawled through the tree

istened. And it hated being ignored. Halfway through the Thickets, a c

Not quite wolf. Not quite huma

ithsh

tilted its head. Its eyes-empty voids-fixed on Aria. "Blood

cross its side. The Wraithshifter screamed-an unholy sound that made the forest tremble-and va

she asked. Luca didn

the eve of the Blood Moon. A stone fortress carved into the cliffside, it over

ach founding pack. All dressed in robes of black and silver. Aria stood tall as Maera had taught he

Veil, trespassing into forbidden lands, a

of this. But I'm not running from it either." Murmurs rippled through the

hoes. Let the spirits of y

ed behind t

epped through. The door slammed shut behind her. She was alone. Or so she thought. T

: Younger,

mother, holding a baby. Her. "Run, Aria. Hide from it." She fe

smiling with sorrow. "You

ancient and powerful surged within her-fire and moonlight t

had only j