The circle closed in around Aria, the air buzzing with anticipation. Wolves shifted on their feet, some whispering, others smirking as though waiting for the inevitable. Maren stood opposite her, sharp-eyed and coiled like a predator.
Aria’s heart pounded, but she forced her chin up. She didn’t know their rules, didn’t know how to fight—but she refused to look weak. Ethan was here, somewhere inside this house, depending on her. Retreat wasn’t an option.
“I’ll do it,” she said, surprising even herself with the firmness in her voice.
Maren’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “Good.”
The first lunge came without warning. Maren’s body blurred in a rush of speed, stopping just shy of Aria’s shoulder, the impact of the air making her stumble backward. Laughter rippled through the crowd.
“Too
