THE VOICE UND

eath her paws-alive, hum

ric knelt in the snow, a broken shadow of the Alpha she once knew. He

ne it out

had none l

" she said, no

t doesn't speak with word

," Ashra

ped into

intent, curling like fingers. Ashra walked deeper, guided by the beat of something

th

ice fo

ears. In

eaker. Child

top walking. "

killed your brother, it crack

d, deeper

your

hoed. It wa

was

nter of the cha

of ash and starlight. Its eyes were pits of wh

ared at

what yo

shade warily. "Y

eath, carried back

re a

your soul has

have a choice. That you are strong enough to wa

ed her cla

softened. "You felt it. In battle. In grief. In f

epping closer. "T

dow did

are? When they see your paws scorched by celest

le

dug deeper

herself not

d of becoming

shoul

suddenly

kened into pai

ou what happen

yanked fro

icking through t

screaming her name not

her fur blackened with celesti

was

te

he sm

lapsed to

back in

ng. Sh

and whispered, "That is not

ed. "That hasn'

You are standing at the fracture point

ifted h

sm

h cruelty-w

change th

w tilted

e watched the stars. I've heard the voices. I've felt the pull. But let me tell you something,

red he

se it

de blin

vani

out of the Wy

fallen in the night, dusting his fu

it in

in her was

"What di

long moment. Then: "The

ze darkened

oked a

ve you,"

ckered in

need you besi

than any claw eve

stay in exile. I'll never stop w

won

d and wal

to her pack t

tious awe. Rumors had spread fa

d them most was

tranger who

pu

mping, wrapped in storm-gray fu

ently on the stone

he flame. A child of what I almo

look

second

s ri

spe

quest

ccepte

they tru

one atop the Ridge of Howl

red at

" she whispered. "And

rustled l

our puppet. Your wea

ed her h

nt a go

red he

ave to make ro

en she

he mountain

Chapte