The bond between my wolf and the divine thrummed like a string drawn tight, vibrating with power I had only ever brushed at the edges of.
When I lifted my gaze, silver eyes met silver eyes. The world fell away until there was nothing left but her and me.
“My child,” she said again, her voice carrying like a song woven through the wind. “You have fought, bled, and refused to bow. You have shattered chains and taken oaths. You carry not just a crown, but the weight of every soul who still dares to believe in more.”
The circle of wolves around us was utterly silent. No breath. No whisper. Just reverence heavy as stone.
I swallowed hard. “I don’t know if I can be what they need.”
Her smile curved, small and knowing. “That doubt is the proof that you can. Only those who question their wort
