phin

hout warning, stretching the shadow of the silver pin

esk, a blank piece of parc

pin and pricked the

rimson blood wel

tters are the most sacre

ique scent, making it imp

trokes, I wrote out a new,

t clearly:

ond piece of parchment, I composed a

nd placed it into a w

Omega maid, who stood

Forest tomorrow morning," I instructed. "Tell her to pr

kly and slipped out

the sky was gray a

to the Pack cemetery, the damp

rave, my enhanced wolf sens

ent of silver rust coming fro

anded a heavy pouch of gold

ands shook as h

re years ago," the gravekeeper confessed in a whisper. "Sai

egan digging at the flat dirt. After a few minutes, the metal blade struck something hard. Carefully avoiding dir

k of the deadly met

ver shackles, covered in ancient runes

he dark, letting the silver slowly bur

g chill settled

shut, and you'll live to testify when the time comes. But first, I need yo

y worked. He handed me the finished rubbing, his hands still trembling. I folde

down the mountain path, my h

stle, a figure stepped out f

who had been banished from the Pac

all, weather-beat

he castle walls, the pouch hidden in my palm. Later that night, in the solitary qui

umpled paper and a dried

leste when she was ten years

ot want the amulet with my name on it, and she begg

ved as I rea

o had measured my neck for a silver collar, who had kissed my forehead be

room suddenly

me, her eyes locked ont

demanded, reaching ou

its way into the safety of my pocket. My mother's face, a mask of composure moments before, began to crumble

a dangerous energy. "You knew she didn't want it, bu

ce twisted in

ing my inner wolf push

ver bow to you a

as over, and I w

family's table. And I would show him exa