The stake of fire

The Howl Be

rest of Velensk,

e died in th

any ways

t as wind and hungrier than winter. I remember the way the snow cracked under my feet, t

could watch. That howls at night meant a death by dawn. We mocked it as children

k's feast. The whole village gathered for the procession, c

that split the world in two. Wolves, but not. Larger. Taller. Their eyes

st leapt. I heard the crack of bone. Her body hit the ground before I even screamed. That was

not

n c

n f

different

ming with growls, with whispers in a language my mind shouldn't understand

th ached in my jaw. I could smell the snow outside. I could hear somethin

nside me. Brea

hand pressed me back down

ake," a v

and saw him for

n Dra

er. His hair, black as ravens, fell to his collar in loose curls. But it was his eyes that fr

from me,

beside me, inspecting me like on

id, without emotion.

t ask fo

e ever

te, but he caught my wrist i

yourself. Or

f you," I spat

are

eard it. The word they whis

ewo

ess, carved into the bones of a mountain, veiled in mist and blood-warded trees. Fi

a chamber alon

ed until

ainst the stone tryin

ts of a deer carcass so

inside me clawed cl

rned one fully shifts. For some, it takes days. Fo

y skin tore itself apart only to heal again, slick with sweat and blood. My

n, it w

s taller than I should be, my wolf form lean and sinewy,

. Every sound. Every scent. The snowstorm two mile

d back, collapsed

here when I

" he said, sitti

n't r

, I'd die a man instead of a beast." He leaned forward. "But

t serve

l. Or yo

st like that. Co

ing was... he hadn

t night

ted once to get past the perimeter, then again to cross the frozen river. The forest

hurch steeple rising from the frost. But the village

ed to m

no home to

heard it. That l

ci

ht I wouldn't fol

me," I

N

do you wa

, boots crunching frost. "You're not cursed.

ask to b

esn't care w

he Hollow Fan

atch. Then came the smoke. And the stink.

k rites had breached the gate. Towering beasts, all fangs and ra

e behind them, c

s like rubies. Skin like porcelain. They didn't rage like

ed me by the

can

u will. Or w

oded across his body. His jaw cracked into a snout of bone an

st time, I didn't fight it. I

on't remember most of the fight, just flashes. A vampire's mouth too close. Lu

e, we were both

ow. Panting. Tre

knelt b

ell," he s

't l

my cheek, rough with dried b

irst time, I

was. But I di

anym