The only thing that mattered was Liora. As soon as the sun started to dip, Owen and I slipped out of Bloodhowl territory. We moved like we had the forest's permission. We didn’t talk. We knew the plan, and that was it. We didn’t like each other, and I didn’t care. We cut through frost and fern and found the old deer path Maggie had taught pups to follow when storms came fast. Her cottage leaned into the hill like it was tired of holding the roof up. The door opened before I could knock.
“Inside,” Maggie said. As always, she knew. Ace settled the second we crossed her threshold.
“Home…well, sort of,” he muttered. I ignored him for now. The room smelled of smoke, sage, and iron in water. Maggie’s hair was braided, silver rope down her back, eyes bright and merciless. She took us in with o
