with you," Lucian said, stepping closer. "An Onyx wolf could be... valuable to my pack."A howl pierced the air-Silver Ridge wolves, getting closer. Serena's former family hadn't given up

a hill.For one horrible moment, she hung suspended, front paws still gripping the edge.Then those, too, slipped.Serena fell, tumbling through darkness. Her body slammed against rocks and tree roots jutting from the cliff face. Pain exploded everywhere. She couldn't even howl-the breath was knocked from her lungs.After what seemed like forever, she crashed to the ground far below. The impact sent fresh waves of agony through her body. Something in her left front leg snapped. Her vision blurred as pain threatened to pull her into darkness.Get up! she commanded herself. They're still coming!But her body wouldn't obey. The wolf form that had felt so powerful now lay broken and useless. Serena focused on shifting back to human, hoping her injuries might be less severe in that form.The transformation was agony. Broken bones and torn muscles protested as they reshuffled. When it finished, Serena lay naked and shivering in the mud, rain pelting her human skin. Her left arm was definitely broken, twisted at an unnatural angle. Cuts and bruises covered her body.Lightning flashed again, revealing a small opening in the cliff face nearby-a cave, partially hidden by bushes. Shelter.Serena dragged herself toward it, biting her lip to keep from screaming as pain shot through her broken arm. Each movement was torture, but the howls above drove her forward. If they found her like this, helpless and injured, she wouldn't stand a chance.After what felt like hours but was probably only minutes, Serena reached the cave entrance and pulled herself inside. The space was small but dry, extending back into darkness. Using her good arm, she pulled some of the bushes across the opening, hiding her shelter from view.Only then did she allow herself to collapse, shaking with pain, fear, and exhaustion."What am I going to do?" she whispered to the darkness.Twenty-four hours ago, she had been Serena Vale, beloved daughter of the Alpha, future Luna of the Silver Ridge Clan. Now she was nothing-a cursed outcast, hunted like prey, broken and alone in a storm.Tears mixed with the rainwater on her face. Everything was gone. Her home. Her future. Even Elias had turned against her.Elias. The memory of his face twisted in fear and disgust made her chest ache worse than her physical injuries. How could he reject her so completely? They had grown up together, trained together, promised to rule the pack side by side. One night had erased all of that.Above the cave, howls echoed. The hunters were searching the ridge, but the storm worked in her favor, washing away her scent. As long as she stayed hidden, they might pass by without finding her.Serena huddled deeper into the cave, trying to warm her shivering body. T