The howl lingered in the air, sharp and ancient, cutting through the night like a blade. Maya’s heart pounded, her wolf clawing at the surface, urging her to move, to act. The clearing on the ridge felt too small, too exposed, as the sound of hooves grew louder, thundering up the slope from the forest below. Sophie stood frozen, her amber eyes flickering with conflict, the blade in her hand trembling.
“Sophie,” Maya said, her voice low but firm, “you don’t have to do this.”
Sophie’s lips parted, but no words came. The moonlight caught the sheen of tears in her eyes, but her grip on the blade tightened. “You don’t understand,” she whispered. “The Council… they’ll destroy everything if I don’t.”
“Destroy what?” Maya stepped closer, her wolf’s silver glow pulsing faintly in her eyes. “Your
