The arrow slides free with a wet, awful sound, blood gushing in one last burst.
But her body shudders, and then the shift slams through her like a tidal wave.
Her bones twist. Muscles snap. Fur bursts across her skin as her wolf form takes over—bigger than I remember, radiant and trembling.
The wound seals over before my eyes.
The bleeding stops.
Her chest rises—shaky but steady.
She’s still breathing.
Barely.
But she’s not dead.
Not yet.
I grab Ryan and pull him close as we surround her trembling wolf form, shielding her with our bodies. Around us, the rogues stand frozen, unsure, watching us like prey that just grew fangs.
Caden stands up—covered in blood, shaking, his fire burning along his arms.
He looks like death.
“Touch her,” he says coldly, “and I will burn your entire
