The werewolf curse

ve: Ashgro

ter's Moon passed in a

to pink scars within days, leaving only a faint ache behind. Kaelen, too, regained her s

elen had an edge-graceful, sharp, dangerous. She moved like someone born in the forest, a creature

ething e

said on their fifth morning spar,

g. "Because I'm not trying t

and twisted-gently but firmly. "You'

. "I'm tryi

releasing her and stepping back. "The f

moment, breath fogging

sked, "Why did

er head. "You a

You could've disappeared

curse. To the hunters. To ignorance. You're...

rt thudding louder th

believe in myself

er. "Then let's fin

s. She dropped her satchel with a heavy sigh, unwrapped

t up. "From R

her head. "F

sible. Ashgrove fell years a

e thought. But this is in your family's

ink was smudged in places, hurrie

are safe. Come to the Ash Tree. F

ked up.

th thinned.

you were

ed slowly.

two days. The deeper they went, the stranger the forest became-less welcoming, more watchful. T

ckened ridge. "Ashgrove used to be sacred. A sanctuary for Bound. The O

Mara

feared what we

moss-choked roots. Broken buildings slumped beneath the overgrowth-homes,

er of the clear

d, with branches that reached

hispered as much. "They sa

ahead slowl

from behind the t

st because the fire c

reath caug

pulled ba

d no youth. Her skin was darker, her jaw sharp, an

the Bound

a said cautiously. "Y

he truth. There's more than hunters comin

ed forward.

her. "You're not Bound

the moment I raised a cursed child

pause. Then Riven

neath the Ash Tree's roots, hidden

d blue and ancient glyphs lined the walls. A handful of othe

," Riven said. "What re

d stunned. "

"We lost most of the old ways. Most

entral stone, its surface

n-the curse isn'

ct between humans and the forest, forged to protect the land from invaders who sought to conquer it. Over time, the magic

s barely a whispe

chose her. And Alaric's no

espite the warmt

o we do?"

pulled out a stone-a shard of o

se the next moon brings more t