before the

she sat up, sore from the hard pavement and curled posture she had slept in. The cold had crept into

ek. Her breath puffed into the morning, white and fleeting. Her belly grumb

ill closed-no scent of bread yet. She didn't wait. She turned and moved toward the edge of th

did

stalls, shouting prices and sweeping away the dust. It was too early

erent. Not bett

ne-just beyond the cracked posters. A figure. Still. Watchin

he was too tired, too hungry. Her head would spin with shadows. But as she kep

ked up

h urgency. The wolf clan had gathered again. The Council sat in a crescent, their expressions carved from s

spoke louder

ver-streaked hair falling past his shoulders. "The Aus

th all due respect, we don't even know if the Austins a

ed. "We cannot let this go on. We gave

shadow, were summoned that night. Their leader, Captain

boundaries?"

oundaries. Find them. Bring

d by. People passed. A man dropped a coin into her palm without look

canal. Her feet dangled over the edge, toes just above the water's surface.

t seem cruel he

y back toward the alley. But as she

alley. Not police.

low voices-too far for her to hear. Her heart thudded in her che

ng. A bottle toppled behind her. The noise

hear

n't wait

reached the next street over. H

why, but somet

t know but she surely