Book Two – Chapter 10
The Forest Queen Awakens
The celebration ended in uneasy silence.
Only moments earlier, wolves had been laughing beneath the Moon Tree.
Now every eye remained fixed on the single black blossom hanging from its silver branches.
It looked wrong.
Like darkness had stained the moon itself.
Cassiel gently placed his hand against the trunk.
He closed his eyes.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Then he stepped back.
"The corruption is real."
Elder Rowan frowned.
"What could poison something blessed by the Moon Goddess?"
Cassiel's expression grew grave.
"There is only one force old enough."
He looked toward the northern mountains.
"The Wild Magic."
A murmur spread through the gathered wolves.
Even the oldest elders looked uneasy.
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Later that night, the
