The Stone Circle smelled like blood and anticipation.
Aurelia stood at the edge of the arena, breathing slowly through her nose, letting her
senses map the space. Packed earth beneath her feet, worn smooth by generations of
fighters. The stone pillars that gave the Circle its name, ancient and weathered, marking
the boundaries of sacred ground. And the crowd—hundreds of wolves from a dozen
packs, their voices a low roar of expectation.
Across the Circle, Kael Brennan rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck. He was
exactly what she'd expected: tall, broad, moving with the casual confidence of someone
who'd never lost a fight that mattered. His wolf would be big, powerful, built for
overwhelming force.
He was already underestimating her. She could see it in his posture, the way h
