. Kai stood at the edge of Moonlight Clearing, already shirtless, his ranger uniform folded ne

is day job. Elder Marcus sat cross-legged on a moss-covered stone, his weathered face serene despite the approaching change. Even

f ritual. "Tonight we honor the ancient bond between moon and wolf. W

fire. His enhanced senses sharpened further. He could smell the excitement and apprehension of h

comes responsibility. We are not mere beasts.

e elder's gaze settle on him specifically. The weight

n began as it alw

rs elongating into claws. The agony was familiar but never easier, a monthly reminder o

ng. Growls, gasps, the wet sound of changing flesh. But underneath th

The scent of deer in the valley below called to him. The need to

something w

most supernatural sheen. His wolf form stood nearly four feet at the shoulder, bigger than any of his p

the pack bond, Kai felt his friend's concern mixed with awe. The transformation

e elder's presence commanded respect. Through subtle body language-the tilt of his

o be,' the gesture seemed to say. 'But

low eyes held a different message-challenge and resentment. She'd always been the better hunter, the more

king the lead, his enhanced senses guiding them toward the hunting grounds. The familiar thrill of

prey tonight was a small herd of deer that had bedded down in a valley three miles from town. The hunt

rlooking the valley, Kai caught a

ma

But between the pack and their prey, two figures moved through the darkness w

wo young men, probably in their early twenties, carrying camping gear and flashlight

nally made their kill. Worse, they were directly downwind from the deer. One wrong move, on

s sacred, a monthly ritual that couldn't be postponed. Some of the younger wolves were a

They'd encountered humans during hunts before, but never in such a dangerous position.

ion. Her yellow eyes fixed on the campers below, and Kai caught the scent of h

nting grounds, but that would mean traveling further from their territory, risking encounters with rival packs. Or

ind. The weight of her husband's grief. The knowledge that one mom

de his

w. They would hunt elsewhere tonight, even if it meant going hungry. The disap

xcept

ellow eyes met Kai's, and he saw the challenge there. She was testin

ire pack watched as brother and sister faced off in wolf form, their f

as she turned to follow the pack, Kai caught something else in her scen

o far from its herd. The kill was clean and efficient, but the taste of victory was

ly lives, Kai remained in wolf form longer than usual. The beast within him was reluctant to re

sponsibility settled on his shoulders like a heavy cloak, but underneath it was something

n expected protection from their ranger. And somewhe

the beast within him was growing stronger with each passing moon. The question wa

it sensed the storm approaching. Change was coming to S

it all, a man caught between worlds, figh