ers were colder t

Kael's time, before any of them. Fires burned in shallow braziers, their heat swallowed by the cavernous walls.

ncil had

r these men and women-but he respected the power they wielded. Their decisions could not be overturned. Their judgments h

an with sunken cheeks and a ga

u summoned us to

d," Ka

d forward, spine straight, eye

rl from a fallen pack. Mooncrest'

ch alive," Ar

, a female with eyes like polished onyx. "This is

The bond was not chosen. It was fated

" muttered a third, an older Beta

rged. She stepp

didn't die. And I won't apologize for surviving.

ppled throug

"You wish to prove yourself wo

," she

t the tri

-

re older than

t a Luna's strength-physically, mentally, spiritually. Few dared

want Aria to be put through such crue

nd beside you, I'll e

he fortres

Three nights. N

oon wa

olves

-

: The Hunt

ke banshees and the forest pulsed with ancient magic. She was led by silent warrior

sed deep into the woods. Her task was simple: track it,

n no weapons.

arked her with ash and sigils of the o

ped past the thresho

ies. Aria moved carefully, relying on her instincts and her wolf sense

it att

ur bristling with thorns, and eyes glowing red with rage. It lunged from the c

e cracked its jaw. Blood sprayed across the ferns. The creature was relentless, its

ged again. A deep bite to its neck, a slash through its chest-and finally, i

oodied but victorious, with the beas

ncil sai

hey wa

-

: The Mirr

ent chamber sealed beneath the mountain. Inside were mirrors, ea

mind woul

, she

were sealed

he mirrors be

ing, trapped beneath the r

away as the Council s

ined, feral, bloodied

d. "You are an orphan. A mate of convenienc

ts. Her knees buckled

l choosing another. Her

ia whispered. "But

loser to the l

raid. I am more than his

-and punched straigh

oded outward. Th

or crea

aited outside,

rror?" one of them

rself," said t

-

e: The Blad

trial was t

ial of

ver chains, his body marked with shallow cu

blade was plac

il," the gaunt elder said. "Spill

rom the warri

ook. Not from fe

s. They said nothing, but i

beg," he s

supposed to,"

ed to the

It's the strongest thing I have. I didn't a

opped t

trade my soul f

silence

aunt elder

" he said, his voi

asps. Even some of the

was un

Ari

clared Luna

-

n the balcony outside Kael's chambers. The moon was high, silver light cas

ned her i

d rest," he

he replied.

er face. "You

had

her hand. She

them hurt you

m. "Then don't be

eyes

t wasn't gentle. It was wild. Fierce. Li

time, Aria didn't f

lt like