The Black Wolf

ya's

torch extinguished, but I could tell, they weren't ordinary sol

ill of the night bit into my skin, but I froze,

ing presence. My gaze locked on his, and something within me shifted. I

mself to my height. A fleeting

id, his voice low and rasped. "I've heard the r

d for years, maybe I've forgot

e they see disaster, I see potential. I am

them once, a twilight-born pack, bo

ing his hand. "Let me take everyth

palm. But they did, and in that moment, I felt my wolf stirring. For the

d the pack. Balls of fire arced through the sky, hurled by his soldiers. Fl

perhaps. This was, after all, my bir

e was one thought burning

. Let the gods guard him

he extended his hand again. I hesitated, but my fingers me

and steel clung to him, yet beneath it, something darker, something ancient. My mind scr

of the pack, where his soldiers surged ahead like

nt, now smothered in smoke and ruin. The pack had rallied in

their ground with swords drawn. Their eyes locked on us, and in that m

ed and offered his hand again. I took it, as my feet touched

woman shrieked, pointing at me

us!" another cried out,

gh, you cursed witch?"

r pack was falling apart, and yet here they were hurling their last breaths at me.

lencing the crowd instantly. Even the crackling f

epped forward, sword still in hand, h

d what do you se

son Dusk," his tone mocking yet imperial. "

murs spread like wildfire. Dread. Rage. A

re and blood to our gates. May the goddess forgive me if I stoop to entertain a power

his voice dripping with amusement. "Oh no... I don't

. In an instant, arrows flew, screams tore through

s erupted once more, every part of me

ng was off, their arrows flew wide, their moveme

his hand again, and

kill every last one of you right here, right now," he said, eyes swee

hoice, a fight to the death. You and me. If you win, your pack lives,

breath, even the wi

hin the pack, one who questioned their Alpha's worth. But from an outsider? Unheard o

clenched tightly in his hands, he se

h a single fluid motion. Then he unsheathed h

e, inky and alive, as though it breathed, enchanted, surely. I didn't know i

uel b

with the fury of a pack leader defendi

effortless grace, like a predator toying with prey. His expression n

, more reckless. He swung harder, faster, but X

eyes to follow, Xareth's blade arced through

throat. Before anyone could even react, Xareth d

stumbled, lips parting in a soundless gasp. Blood spilled

ven though I'd known deep down how this woul

as the last light faded from Thorn

e. It was the Heartstone. It pulsed once, then rose from his body, de

with ancient power. It shimmered, spinning gently

ose the next Alpha. If the chosen was unworthy, t

lood heir to the former Alpha. And Xare

ad wrapped around my heart. I turned, and th

ed his expression, or perhaps disappoi

a step, how do I explain this? How do I explain

cended, I held my breath, not for who it would choose, but for what Zev