The moon hung high above the ritual ground. Its pale light spread across the clearing and washed over the gathered wolves. Torches burned along the edges of the circle, but the moonlight dominated the space. Every face in the crowd remained visible.
Mira stood bound to the iron post at the center of the clearing.
The rope around her wrists held her arms behind the post. The position forced her shoulders back and left her standing upright under the full view of the pack. No wolf spoke.
The ritual had begun, and the entire clearing waited for the next command.
Ryker remained on the stone platform several steps away. His expression had hardened as he studied the ropes around Mira’s wrists. The bandage beneath his shirt had already begun to stain again, but he ignored the pain.
Halric sto
