Before Gideon could answer, one of the younger wolves, a girl named Beth, stumbled out of the forest. She was covered in blood and barely conscious.
They rushed her to the healers. While they worked on her wounds, Beth kept repeating two words: "The caves. The caves."
"What caves?" Jayden asked.
"There are old mining caves about five miles north," Thomas said. "Abandoned for decades. I did not think anyone knew about them anymore."
"These Purists seem to know a lot of things they should not," Gideon said grimly. "How many entrances?"
"Three that I know of," Thomas said. "But the cave system is massive. Dozens of tunnels and chambers. Easy to get lost."
"Then we need a guide," Gideon said. "Someone who knows those caves."
"I know them," a quiet voice said.
Everyone turned. An old ma
