na

ld and emotionless, as he

them," he

a blade to the ches

betrayed me. And they paid f

ing with something dark. "Now,

, my legs tremb

're lying. You're just tr

but there was no am

asked, voic

ndoned. Cast out like trash. Why do you

sco

ce. A living offering. They

war drum, my wolf Sofi

! Fi

. And yet... something insi

ent me

closer, his breat

ur new reality

I could feel the chill of

he whispered, voice smooth and venomous.

I could even blink, somethi

agg

ord out before the sharp

ank deep in

the forest floor. The world tilted, blurred. My hands trembled as

ove me, expres

survive," he said quiet

ed with my blood. My heartbeat thundered in

ing was

ees. T

fa

ed until all I

called out

e was

his t

my fading vision. Blood pooled beneath me, warm and thick, soaking into the

inches from mine, his dar

whispered, his voice a deat

ift and tear him apart. But all I coul

rted, but n

but even my wolf had gone eerily quiet-eithe

eeks. I had been trained to fight, raised to lead. And yet

towering over me lik

urmured. "But strength means

ly registered the sound of footsteps crunching over the forest floor

way fr

e rang out like steel s

f echoing around us as he took a st

?" he asked, eyes nar

e didn't

lint of silver in her cloak, her presence radiating power

o you want

peak. My throat burned, my chest ached, and the w

whisper of air escaped. I

derstood. Hoping someone finally came... no

ing against the wound on my stomach. Her touch was warm, hummin

nterest, his smile f

rmured, but even he didn

ous woman i

voice suddenly laced with urgency. "I

energy I couldn't comprehend. The pain was overwhelming, yet it

e like thunder wrapped in silk,

de

the darkness pulling at my soul, my hea

I rasped, barely able

ncient, something powerful. "One that will change ev

on. I could feel it-whatever this was, it wasn't just

down, I

longer t

trayed lover, the broken offering-died

pain and blood,

ing...