Cassie
Smoke curled from the eastern tower, but it wasn’t fire, at least not yet. Just the scent of iron and oil, soldiers sharpening blades, war drums echoing in practice rather than in blood.
Greyer was preparing.
And I was expected to lead.
As Luna, they looked to me for strength. As a girl who might belong to another pack, they looked at me with questions.
I stood before the training ground, eyes tracing every wolf in uniform. Mark stood to my left, Lark to my right, but I felt more alone than ever. The sun cut through gray clouds, illuminating the scarlet sigil on my chest—the Luna crest that no longer felt like mine.
“Say something, Cassie.”
Mark’s voice cut through the tension, low and tight like a blade on the verge of snapping.
I didn’t answer him. I couldn’t.
Because wha
