Ivara pulled the hood of her cloak lower over her face, navigating the bustling, loud market of Oakhaven. It was a neutral trading town located just outside the Vargan territory borders, a place where wolves, humans, and merchants mingled freely. She kept her head down, her heart pounding frantically against her ribs.
She was Erin’s only remaining friend in the pack. For nearly a year, she had kept her head down and her mouth shut, watching Corin slowly turn into a ghost of himself while the Elders tightened their grip. But she couldn’t take it anymore. The whispers in the pack were growing darker, and Ivara knew time was running out.
She stopped in front of a small, fragrant stall selling fresh greens and dried herbs. The vendor, an older woman with sharp eyes who had dealt with the Var
