THE TEARS OF THE CRESENT MOON

the fog like a blade. Elyra Voss stood at the edge of Duskfall's crumbling bridge, h

, her trust in love burned to ash. Now, she was back, clutching a l

th about your family waits

re, just a wax seal with a wolf's claw. Her fingers trembled as she tucke

the Crescent Pack sent shivers down her spine.She wasn't the broken girl who'd run away at eighteen, b

'd promised her forever, then cast her out like a stray. She'd sworn ne

d in the wind, catching the moonlight. She adjusted the dagger strapped to her thigh, its weight a remind

parted, revealing a figure leaning against a gnarled oak. Tall, broad-shouldered, with aub

oos peeking from his collar, and his smi

was low, teasing, but his gaz

ooking for

ebellious, and Zane's rival. The Ironclaws and Crescents had been at

ped closer, his boots crunching gravel. "Oh, but you are.

her. "And those eyes... they g

uried since her family's slaughter. Her violet eyes, a mark of her bl

ry tale for pups. I'm here f

faded, his ey

Blackthorn, Elyra Voss. And

. Elyra's blood ran cold. She knew that howl-Zane's. Her heart betrayed her, lurching with

Kael muttered. "Your

oward the sound, her resolve hardening. She'd face Z

l. "Careful, Moonseer. Zane's not the boy you love

azing. "I don't trust him. Or

g in her mind. The Crescent Pack's territory loomed ahead, marked by claw-scarred

ugh, his green eyes promising forever, the night he'd turn

ung, a wound that never healed. She'd been eighteen, in love, and naive.

f Zane knew anything, she'd tear it out of him.The forest opened to a

h wolf runes. Pack members gathered, their eyes glinting in th

turned to haunt them.And then she saw him.Zane Blackthorn stood by the alta

ing the air. A scar traced his jaw, new since she'd left, and

ng her again, but she clenche

. It wasn't a question-it was a claim. The pack parted, and he s

but she held his gaz

't assume I came

m here for the truth. Don't get in my way."Zane stopped inches

cker of something-guilt? regr

me in Blackthorn, Elyra. Yo

She wanted to scream, to demand why he'd broken her, bu

he could hear. "I'm not the girl you threw

a woman stepped from the shadows, her white hair gleaming like f

nough," Mira said, her voice smooth as silk. "The ritual begins. Elyra

ned. A ritual? She hadn't planned for this. The letter hadn't mentioned a test. Bu

steady despite the fear claw

eyes. "The Moon's Trial. Step into the circle, bare yo

er gaze flicking to the altar

could expose her Moonseer powers. If the pack knew what she was, they'd tea

tric. "Elyra, don't," he whispered, his voi

rt fracturing. "I know w

her. The moonlight intensified, bathing her in silver, and

ophecy. Her pulse thundered as she fa

ing, unbidden. The air crackled, and a vision slammed into her: blood-soaked e

lunged forward, catching her before she fell. "Elyra, st

vision clearing. Lila, her childhood friend, burst into the clea

t her heart. Zane shoved her aside, the bolt grazing his arm, drawing bloo

n, her eyes locking on Mira. The healer's sm

ck, Moonseer," Mira said, he

nlight blinding, and another vision hit: a claw seal, a traitor's mark, an

her voice breaking.

ss his face. "Elyra, I-" Another bol

he ground, her vision darkening, and saw a cloaked figure vani

, Lila's scream, and Mira's chilling lau