BOUND TO THE ALPHA'S CURSE

ra'

ed through cracks in windows, and settled like soot in the lungs. Elara Hale had grown used to silence-her

f–burnt log that refused to catch flame. Her thoughts strayed again to the dream. No,

y did not attack. They bowed. One wolf-larger than the rest, its eyes bleeding red-stood at her side. Its presence was both pro

from sweat and her throat raw from

her about such visions, muttering that priestess blood ran crooked through her mother's line. But Elara never knew her mot

as foolish to dwell on dreams. Except lately, they came every night. And every

ock rattle

careful with each step across the crea

ith her shawl clutched tight. "You did not hear it?"

r wh

the Hollow. But not normal

squeezed. "You

ixty winters, child. I know the sound of hu

to shake the ground beneath them. Her skin prickled, breath catching. The sound did not

breath and backed away. "Bolt you

th, leaving Elara alone with t

with her chest heaving. For a long moment, she remained there,

ince herself to sleep. She banked the fire,

eep wa

lit by silver light. A hand reaching for her wrist-long fingers, calloused

la

pen. She was aw

poken her name. I

of the room, lit faintly by embers. Empty. She swung her legs o

la

, near the shuttered window. She froze,

under her step. She reached the window, pressed

nd the line of trees swa

could close the sh

g from the darkness of the woods. Not hum

her hand. And as she watched, those eyes v

ine hit the wall. She wanted to tell herself she imagined it

Al

east, shadow of the forest. Few had seen him in years, and fewer survived the encounter. Some said

eved those tales

s, but she sensed that her life had just shifted, cracked open by something vast and dan

ursed

nge pull tugged at her chest. Not fear, not entir

silence, barely able

you want

other howl. This time close

directed at her, pulling her

her mind circling the vision of fire and shadows until it felt burned into her very skin. Every creak of wood

oards as though even the flame feared what lingered outside. The forest loomed beyond the window, black and endl

rrow sharp enough to pierce bone. Elara froze, her breath caught in her chest. Her

llow would never let her hide. Whate

red, and the night