Deal with the werewolf king

rose red

ow. Elara stood barefoot in the courtyard of the bone castle, flanked by towering figures draped in pelts

ps like a god descending from judgment. "The Trial of the F

fear. She stood in a circle etched with runes that

lack liquid. It shimmered like oil, steaming faintly. Without war

dr

through her chest like vines of fire. She gasped and fell to her knees. The forest

taken hold," said t

d stone as she bolted into the woods. Behind her, the werewolves howled as one-l

were

in the dark. Elara's breath came fast, wild, her limbs pulsing with unnatural strength.

of them r

nd against a stone, and sprang up again. Something inside her was moving-something new. Her sight sharpened.

last, eyes glowing blue. It snarled and leapt-and w

a

fted-arms long and clawed, teeth too sharp for a

t ready,"

n't c

h, not in anger-b

prov

ed into t

next bea

icks and stones. She clawed when she had to, bit when she must. She didn't scream.

reached its peak, o

muscles trembling. Her hands were shaking,

King stepped f

n, fur black as void, eyes golden and furious. He

ive,"

," she

ed once

stood an

. You change. That i

alized: she was not the g

ed. She ha

er was starti