rcle turned to me-their alpha's silhouette outlined against the flickering runes carved into the walls. My pulse thrummed beneath the h

rt in the sea of skeptical faces. Across from me sat Marcellus, the pack's oldest elder, his white-furred muzzle tight with disapprov

this hour," I began, voice echoing. "Our borders have been violated. Three of my pack were found dead outside the sanctuary, th

is is no ordinary attack." He gestured to the leather pouch I'd opened earlier, releasing a faint sulfuric scent

eyes-blank and glassy-refused to meet mine. "The prophecy stirs," she whisper

ngs. "They hunt for Celia Blake," I said. Silence crashed down. Some scoffed at the human's nam

sses on sacred ground. She bears a silver talisman linked to our greate

or not, she's owed our protection. Ash Draven seeks to use her bloodline. If we abandon h

. We hunt Draven first, protect Miss Blake second."

what of the Council's Code?

k the innocent as prey, we have nothing but ruin ahead." I met his icy stare. "Tonight, we act. Pack, prepare

their paws, bowed heads, and scattered into the torchlit corri

as the door clanged shu

's out there alone. I can'

in every line of his fea

-

d wolf worlds colliding in the underpass. Aric fell silent beside me, fingers brushi

ngth in two steps, and I emerged beneath the red glare of the ELYSIAN sign. Its glowing letters cut through rain mist

ic froze, too. My eyes flicked to the end of the alley, where shadows coiled

from her curls. "I monitored Celia's tracker. She went deeper-toward the old textile mill

en that's where I'm heading." I nodded at Aric. "Sta

sed my arm.

ways." And then I vanished

-

iti-ancient glyphs half-erased by time. I slipped through a crumbling side entrance, boots silent on sh

and stepped into the main floor, where massive looms stood silent and still. Moonl

t of sight. My grip tightened on my knife. As I moved between the looms, I spotted

lled, voice l

ner draped in oilskins. The silhouette of a human form slumped against a meta

pered, and relief

Draven emerged from the shadows, silver hair glinting beneath the moonbeam. He

ce was silk dipped in venom. "You

e, but one wrong move and Celia would die. I cro

You'll kill me? Then what of the prop

electricity in the air-the bond between us flaring to l

eat on my palm shimmered in the moonlight. I was h

gun unwavering. "Come

orld detonated in