The stake of fire

ne trees clung to the crags like old ghosts refusing to fall. The fortress, part keep, part cave system

t I wa

ve died weeks ag

led the Lost i

e sigil of the

tonight, I would either be welcomed in

gathered the enti

s that wound like ribs around the war hall. Torches lined the high walls, the

arks. Runes older t

not protected by his presence. I

did not for

ved staff in her hand. Her silver hair was braided with beads of b

born to this pack, nor bonded by oath. She carries the

cut cleanly thr

er awaken the Vale. I sa

curse reborn? We have not forgotten the last time the Br

that woman,"

stepping forwa

e sharp as blades. I continue

comes, I'll burn the world before I let it swallow me. I

lips t

ith a traito

you don't believe I'm worthy to stand among you,

steel. "You challen

to face h

ined hi

l face the Tr

mountain, carved by claws and sealed by runes of moon magic. The walls bore scars from a t

ould fight f

beast form, eyes gleaming in the torchlight. I felt them,

challe

was t

st breath lost.

k and stepped bare

irst:

w that never quite healed. His wolf form was rumored to

dn't

n't ne

e with fists

d kept moving. I ducked low, rolled, slashed with my claws but Merek g

hind my eyes. Th

ot

. And

lips. Rage i

ully, just enough to harden skin

twist, sank my claws int

oulder but I brought my

tagg

dn't

and slammed hi

't kil

one eye shut and a

econd

d of wolf who'd rise through the

ft, silver gray fur, yello

me. Bit my leg. Tore my sh

think she

I col

poun

the throat mid-leap. Sl

red he

ash. I let

panting, sweat-s

she b

rd: Not

e moment he ca

to the pit slowly. Too slow. T

abo

the darkness of night, but of emptiness. He smiled, an

lf-turned. Hi

ack s

en m

t fast

m beneath his cloak

. Shallow but deep eno

lun

cre

am becam

transf

t into

mething

ilver. Runes lit up along my arms and

rupted in

mpire's char

l f

only burns mons

n't s

udg

oded in

nt as smoke drif

e howli

't come

e from

all o

ld. Beta and omega. They

d into the pit,

ed out h

ook

use I ne

as done fig

east lit the moun

Mead.

nd though my ribs ached, and my c

at me now. They spo

lead," Syla said

s born to survive.

the wind cut through the mountains,

n joi

k at first. We

. The wolve

llow you no

ld fear me

oice soft. "But not t

ned t

pered. "This bond. This pull

d

'm not

id. "You ne

pped c

's why I