er. Shadows danced across the ceiling of the lodge as wind rustled through the trees outside.

led loosely around a half-burned log he must have added to the fire during the night. His head tilted sl

anket sliding off her shoulde

es sharpening as they met hers

, trying to shake the lingering unease

e asked, voice

Elandra I saw. It was... me. Standing in the circle. Bloo

xpression tightening like a

etly. "It felt real. More re

till lay open, its pages curled slightly from the fire's warmth. "We nee

g against the edge of the tabl

aid, voice low and even. "And I'll

ady. "Then let's make

ective wards, each one laced with spells of grounding, resistance, and clarity. The floor was swept clean, the furniture moved aside. A

s and arms bore old scars-testaments to battles survived, wounds earned. Muscles tensed, but

as she approached, holding a

. "I've been clawed, bitten

e him and pressed her palm to the center of his chest. Heat surged between them-magic responding, rec

him-rage, grief, strength-and beneath it all

"Your spirit is tangled. Like somethi

furrowed. "Ca

I'll need some

e wh

id quietly. "Yo

hout hesitation.

. "If I do this, it'll bind

u, Rowan," he said. "Whe

, slicing a shallow line across her palm. Silas mirrored the motion without a word. They p

ind. A boy in the woods. A girl on a cliff's edge. A kiss shared under a blood moon.

ged. Silas caught her before she co

e?" he asked, vo

It was a choice. Elandra offered herself-her blood, her magic-as a ves

. "You're a part of

id of me. They know I can either break

odge door slammed open with a ban

e. His eyes locked on their blood-bound hands, then on the cir

blood now?" Gage

oice calm but edged with

nt while you let a witch di

them, her tone sharp

re a reminder of ev

to cut through the tension.

g. "The pack is restless. They feel the shift in you. The

in. "I know exactly who I am. I'm the Alpha cursed by your

d nothing more. He stalked out, slamming

etween Rowan and Silas. "Be careful," she said

he was

ily, her hand stil

s hand brushing her arm

voice hushed. "Or are we

and unflinching. "Then let it burn

r, the moonlight creeping through the windows, and their