the edge of the cliffs above the Crescent Vale, the white fabric of her cloak fluttering behind her. The moon hadn't

er from High Alpha Varkos. Not since the weight of

rol rotations, weapons being forged and transported. The

ge of the stone. Why did you never tell me, Father? she thought

nd y

e broke the w

pped up beside her. His pre

aid, glancing down into the valley. "

she scribbled qui

n," he said, "and t

What if they don't come alone? What if th

ttack unless he believes he

already o

said. "But n

d to face

the way I think it might... I need you to be prepa

ipped. What

coat and pulled out a thin, aged journal. The leather bi

uncil archives," he said. "It belong

t this

elp you or hurt you. But now

was unmistakable- bold, purposeful, looping

nabelle, should she

s nearly

stone as Alfred crouc

re

must know: we were betrayed not by rogues... but by wolves who once called us allies. They feared the strength

us for what they c

ched her quietly, letting her ta

r entr

o will the knowledge of who you are. Not just my daughter-but the heir of the Alpha's Fl

up at Alfre

pha's

s who could channel their bond into raw power-not just stren

it's

rkening. "And now they

tly. Her heart no longer b

d: the Ironclaws of the north, and the Moonveil Pack to the west. Both

more

laimed n

arge, too brutal. No one

m, the council

long table, Annabelle at his rig

ported, laying down a sketched map. "If their ar

hem into the ravine. Thin them o

lock the ridge," one elder

" Annabel

oom f

lowly. "If she's th

wrote. Let me lead

e turned to

these walls while the

a battle?" he asked, his voice

ght beside me. Not over me. For a long moment, silenc

de her chambers. Alfred reached ou

an anyone I've ever

s chest, just

are

em-brighter now. Not just sur

moon," he whispered, "I want you to know.

And when he leaned in- slow,

n't say aloud. It wasn't a kiss of possession, but of recognition. Of a bond no

g against her chest. The kiss from the night before lingered on her lips, warm and comforting -but also terrify

round her as she crossed the training field. Wolves were already lining up in combat formations. Some had

young wolf, no more than fourteen, stepped up shyly, his eyes wide with admiration. "L

ntly, touched

s post, pride straightening his back. She exhaled slowly. No

map of Crescent Vale lay in the center of the table, now covered in new marki

reading every move, every defensiv

in said. "If we can intercept them before they se

e by nightfall," Rhea added. "T

onclaws?" A

Annabelle scribbled. "The

row. "You think

" Alfred said. "And some

ed at An

t proof of her streng

hesitate. Then I'

cent Vale's northern territory. Dozens of soldiers from both packs formed a ring,

ould not

eather armor stitched to her form. Her eyes glittere

road, with grey hair braided back from his stern face. His reputation preced

want to prove yourself,

miled faint

her

arper than any blade. Daric fought with precision, years of experience

d. Swiped

sheer force, she rolled beneath his blow and

ed back, chest heaving, an

nked. The

wonder the rogue

his pack. "We fight for her bloodline

se around them. The

ronghold. The Moonveil howlers. The Ironclaw brutes. The Crescent elite. Wolves who had once doubted her now bowed wi

d the final page of her father's journa

awakens, you wil

he wa

s a war ahead. But most of all... there was her... Her