ene's acceptance were unli

erving, unseen. Now, eyes followed her everywhere. Some curious. Some hostile.

sons. No cryptic confessions. No stolen glances beneath moonlight

ene had

caught whenever the moon rose. Her senses were sharper now. The wind spoke. The stones whispered. And someti

d they gave the Alpha, but a nod, an acknowledgement. A sign. She had stood in t

vants w

hink she will take a mate?" "The Alpha

ignor

she co

me not from the fortre

the eastern forest, their bodies

red pelt of one onto the stone floor. "Th

s, and tacticians. Selene had never been allowed into

here?" s

the bloodline recognises you. And

m fell

a tall, scarred woman

The bloodline may accept

er gaze with

so didn't ask to bleed. The moon

hut Ry

t weeks, Sel

words. Not

pre

, an old shaman named Mael

y. "Then you must understand two things: power is

a glance. How to recognise dominance in the way someone

udied the old scrolls, histories of Alpha bonds,

peared agai

the Flame

who had s

l who h

se blood may now

afar. She felt it, eve

onted him one nig

e like I car

," he r

not cast

t her for a

ou bring i

ha

beginning. I ca

e walk

r, the Howl

en the warning

r provinces. When the sound reached her ears, a long, low

es poured through the gates in their shifted

lanked by Ryla and Mael. Kade stood over a

less you have confirmation of their full numbers

ked at

u s

N

el

lp. Let m

oulder. "Then you m

went

s not

"You bonded with Elira too late. She died

ondin

the Temple of

epped into one. Selene, the other. A shallow

ion. Ancient words. Wor

e did the same. They let th

y bone," Mael intoned,

wind

orche

urged bet

longer hers. She could feel Kade

t time, he saw i

mother's scr

he sa

ir

ay sh

e begged

t said: N

was done, th

It is done. You a

were pushed

dfang ha

elene were

es could

the north

aled gate throbbed

hispered

le