announcement, the sk

in silence, and not even the wolves dared speak too loudly. It was t

Spike laughed at something Gonzalo said, her fingers brushing his arm in a practiced, intimate motion. She tilted her he

atch them," Nyss

rmured. "I need to se

dragged you down so slowly

into her arms unti

d he lo

, but steel-threaded. "H

egy meetings. Public rituals. Feasts where meat was passed

posturing, letting everyone see how well he'd moved on. Pret

ame inv

e became

in hushed tones. A warning passed too late. A story wit

er was changing. Not breaking sharpening. Each stolen glanc

central fire, Vanya draped in white fur and Gonzalo i

how

in s

hun

ires. The Beta's shoulders were tense beneath his cloa

ave done it lik

talking to

u. And I know what

should b

s why I'm warning you,

t h

you as

just enjoyed pret

ked away,

thinking don't ac

voice like the edge of winter

onzal

ed sky. Wolves circled in reverence, their voices quiet beneath the crackling flames. Gonzalo s

. His voice carried, heavy with implication. "Who speak

n't na

n't ha

are hereby banished from the Bloodfang lands. You n

pack rippled like

Not when two enforcers stepped forward.

n the eye. No tr

regret

lo said. "But not for

turned his

final blow.

ine straight, her jaw like

ith her at the ed

o. We could hide you

et, deadly sure. "Let him believe he'

ed. "What wil

woods ahead. "What I shou

ed. The threads tying her to Bloodfang frayed and snapped, a p

red for t

eeling. Her wolf form cried out for blood, for something to tear, but she denied it. She forced hers

ide the territ

was h

o false crowns. No pr

scent or memory, she built a fire. Her hands we

only ligh

r there. Hood

t be here.

on't st

ht you s

d roots, healing herbs, and a small b

urvive out here, you

ive. I hav

is dif

w I have

. The firelight d

a whispered. "Because now, he's

ated. Then

must. But don

met he

become

ora stood alone beneath

he silence swallow her. Then she s

place. My name. My future

t did not

y w

sil

s before somethin