The sun rose cold and sharp over the Moonrise estate, its light filtered through the iron-crowned pines that lined the training grounds. The early morning air was crisp, and the sharp scent of earth and pine mingled with the rising tension in the air. The pack’s warriors were already in motion—sparring, practicing, their blades flashing in the first light of day. The sounds of boots pounding against the earth, the clash of steel, and the rhythmic beat of the warriors’ training filled the air. Yet today, there was a different energy in the grounds, a buzz of anticipation that had little to do with the usual routine.
Today, it was not just a day for practice. Word had spread quickly through the pack: Xander, Alpha of Moonrise, had challenged Thorne of the Ash Pack to a sparring match. Cerem
