ght spilled from the glowing pool at the sanctuary's heart, its silvery light rippling with a pulse that mirrored the steady throb of the mark beneath her collarbo

rubies in the dark. Despite his wounds-the deep gash across his side bleeding steadily-he radiated strength and re

ela whispered, voi

by the Bloodmarked. Wolves born under the rare celestial signs-the Moo

d carved with purpose rather than ruin. The niches lining the walls had once been h

. It was the first real name for what she was beco

s. "Not legends, Kaela. Re

down her sp

ves stepped into the moonlight, their silver-grey fur shimmering with an ethereal glow. Their eyes,

cars that mapped battles long fought, s

f Lyra, wel

th caught. "

ond wolf said, stepping forward. "Sentinels sw

as streaked with white, bowed her he

ds crushed the space be

ice low. "Darian won't stop hunt

r. "Then I will fight. For

and coalesced into haunting visions. Shapes shifted-glimmers of battles fought in forgotten times, of warriors clad in silver armor, of

e mist

rling fog-a figure cloaked in black,

spered, a chill th

id grimly. "The one who shattered th

rage surging through her

u must awaken your true power. The mark is not just a

-

e a blur of training, reve

pe-shift-not just into her wolf form but to bend the very energies of the Moonbond to her will. The process was exhausting and painful

Guardian instructed one morning. "Focus.

She felt the pulse beneath her collarbone

o command both forms with grace and strength. Their bond, already strong, deepened with e

ary was not wi

ing that eyes watched her, th

particular unn

His silence was heavy, and whenever their gazes met, Kaela sensed

ar, appearing in the pe

-

ollen moon, Seris approached Kaela an

u need to see," he sai

gh narrow passageways deeper into the san

scrolls, weapons, and ancient artif

y. From inside, he produced a sealed letter, its wa

rembled as she

shadow between Darian's father and a mysterious traitor within Whi

barely a whisper

. "A wolf among us w

uddenly colder, the

no longer a d

as h

-

though

compromised. Her

iven, who looke

aitor," he said. "Before

la could feel the sanctuary

-

verfang Keep, Darian

thern lands, his fingers tracing the mounta

is in Whispervale,"

oked uneasy. "How can y

uched the black serpent tattoo curling arou

her," he s

his lips. "She is mi

, watching the storm clouds

ed. "Leave no wolf unchai

hisper rose-a name f

ly

-

ale, the sanctua

ift. Each day brought visions of power and peri

eir bond a flickering flame

betrayal waited like a coil

ld test every part of her-her

overhead, waiting to see w