I barely had time to grab my belongings, the only few things I managed to take were the c

hard as stone. "Your presence is... problematic." He stuttered to say

w how to explain to guests. Like I had ever caused trouble or dishonored any of the wolv

Rowan nor Enchantress Mara, who once told me I had "a gift of gentle light." Maybe they saw the mark

used evil magic to trigger it, or that the Goddess had made a mistake. That a lowly gi

lled, interrupting my thoughts as I hesi

back one

nst the pale blue dawn. The banners sti

they did it would be speeches of mockery and hate. Tears filled my eyes as I blinked i

-

At the Forest b

legs and my feet bled through the sole

ks of snow stung my cheeks. I was getting hungrier and my mouth was dry, but I wouldn't touch the

orld was quiet, but my mind was in chaos. Hones

o feel what I felt? Or did he feel it-and jus

aside? So many thoughts

-

–( The

t I could feel the water from beneath the ice. I knelt beside it, my reflection lo

t darkened. The silver crescent mark still pulsed faintly over m

y voice spluttering. "Why did the Go

as my onl

thing stirred

sound of a cracked tree

instantly,

No, Sever

resence. Shadows circling just beyond the cle

og

small blade hidden in my boot. My han

r stepped

nd yellowish-brown eyes that glows faintly even in the fading light

fe" I m

g like a snake. "The little mo

uldn't know, he

I asked, my voice steady

oon-Blessed. We've been

y him felt wrong, dirty, claimed.

said. "You're wa

ly I couldn't move. My legs were

chc

ike shattered ice. His breath, disgusting "You shone like a silv

. Wolves in half-shifted form.

with you," I said, my voice

er said, tilting his head. "The old ways are returning. The wo

slashed my palm with my blade, letting my blood splashed across the snow and as it flo

m pulling back. My blood shimm

own. "So it's true. The

ily on tree branches whipped against my face. The cold air affected my lung

to a place I had once read about. It looked deadly and no pack member n

f a big tree, my lungs almost out

yes in the dark, then a massive bl

en- Da