-soaking chill of stone and silence. Lyra sat on the damp floor, her knees pulled tight to her chest,

ing the iron door behind them. Now, she was alone

are

ancient. It wasn't her own, yet it was inside her, curling through

wolf, then why now? Why after years of sil

ter, Alpha Rowan appeared at the bars, flanked by two warriors. His eyes were hard as steel, and

e

lain," he sai

know what happened. The Moonfire-

s words were sharp, each one like a blade. "A Thorn with no

cracked. "I felt it. The fire, the bon

of the elders who had followed him. Elder Corvin, his lo

uietly. "Her eyes bear the silver

to Lyra. "If this is true, then you

a blinked. "I di

e walls. "Do you know what this means? The Goddess does not bless witho

t down Lyra's

"If you are the Goddess's chosen, every Alpha will com

ver been noticed except as a failure. And now, suddenly

guards. "At dawn, we take her to th

er feet, gripping the

for a heartbeat, his mask cracked. Not with p

he ordered, and the guar

ainst the wall, her chest tight. The fire

e voice whispered. T

trembling. If this was her wolf.

the cell, dozens of wolves lined the path, their stares like knives. Some looked at h

er-the ch

l brin

oddess made

n her veins stirred with every muttered word, urging her to lash

the air smelled of incense and ash. A great circle of elders sat at the center, their robes heavy

rd," one of the

rcle. Lyra stumbled, catching her

ward. Her eyes were pale as the moon, her hair white

you," Maelis said finally

t tight. But something in the fire inside he

es

h the chamber, stron

The chosen of the Moonfire are bound to destiny. Some become savio

hard. "I didn't

does," Mael

l is unfit. She cannot even shift. To grant her

to her. Her face burned. "Or-at least-I fel

rced her way into the hall, her silver eyes gleaming with venom. "A wolf that ap

d Elara fell back, though her

annot be undone. But whether you are blessing or curse remain

annot mean to keep her

s interrupted. "She will be

e followed. Lyra

nown for his brutality. Ruthless in battle, merciless in rule. He had risen to

egan, but Maelis's p

e is to be the Moonfire's chosen, she must le

n. The very name sent fear rippling through eve

e fire inside her pulsed in

, the decisi

ide. Beyond the trees, the world stretched wide and dark,

er home. The place that had hated her, mocked

lifted her chin. If they

s flared, and the vo

nly the b

on a cliff overlooking his lands. The wind tore at his cloak,

the Beta said. "They are send

ing between a smile and a snarl.

her. I want to see if the Goddes

ound him, and Kaele