The clearing seemed to close in around me, the trees towering above, their branches twisting like fingers reaching for the sky. The wind had died down, leaving an eerie stillness in its wake. I could hear my own heartbeat pounding in my chest, the steady rhythm a stark contrast to the pulsing energy within me. The bond at my neck throbbed, a constant reminder of the force that connected me to Kael, to Nightfang, and to the rogue pack. But this, this trial was different. The bond was no longer just a connection. It was power. And now, I had to choose how to wield it.
The rogue had said it was a weapon. A weapon I could control, but only if I understood it. The question was: could I truly control it? Could I harness this power without losing myself in it? The path ahead was uncertain, but o
