The market smelled like wet fur and desperation.
We left at dawn. All four of us.
Kael said we shouldn’t. “It’s too soon. You’re not ready to be seen.”
But Varek gave us 7 days. And “undeniable” doesn’t happen hiding behind half-built walls.
So we walked.
Two hours to the border market. The place where border Packs dumped their “useless” before winter. Wolfless. Old. Sick. The ones no one wanted.
My stomach turned just thinking about it. Because that used to be me.
The staff was wrapped in cloth and tied to my back. We couldn’t walk in with silver light flashing. Not if we wanted people to talk to us instead of run.
Lina walked on my left. Toren on my right. Kael took point, eyes scanning everything.
“Remember,” Kael said quietly. “We’re not recruiting. We’re offering.”
I nodde
