and. The words scrawled across the paper in that jagged handwriting felt like the

. Now, suffer t

s quickly replaced by a surge of anger. I wasn't about

ll mean? The symbol in the dirt, the crypti

noticed how tightly I'd been clutching the note until I heard the s

into my pocket, taking a d

oice from the other s

meeting her concern

eyes scanning my room be

" she began, not wasting any time. "It's famili

quickened

she tried to recall. "It was in one

meanings. I remember it because it was p

ication. A curse? My thoughts raced. Could this all

n flaring in my chest. "If there's even a chance

. But Sera... if this is really ab

eplied, heading toward the door. "But sitting aroun

dusty room filled with shelves that seemed to

s we stepped inside, the dim light filtering through

ysa close behind. "Do you remember what the book looked like?"

lly. "The cover was dark, almost

gends of the Shadowed Moo

scription. The cover was worn, the title barely legible, but it w

through the yellowed pages until

symbol eerily similar to the one we'd found. It was s

g me with a growing sense of unease. "This symbol is

fate or disrupt the natural order of the pack. The mark is a warning-a

sounds like... like it's connec

d it mean? Was someone using this curse against me to prevent me fr

t. There, beneath the description of the sym

first Alpha of the Silverwood Pack," I

hat those who were chosen to lead would do so

led with disbelief. "But that was centuries a

. "I don't know. But if this curse is connected to the prophecy, then it means

behind the attacks is trying to keep th

"Or maybe they're trying to force it to happen. Eithe

se, the attacks, the prophecy-they were all converging, leading us toward something that none

tension was almost suffocating, the sense of unease

ner table was subdued, everyone too o

The Mark of the Shadowed Moon, the curse, the connection to the first Alpha-it wa

in the solitude. But the moment I stepped inside, I knew something was wron

all, folded piece of paper lay on the pillow. Dread coiled in m

short, but the m

en. Now, someon

the packhouse, followed by the sound of something crashing to the ground. I was out

rrounding one of the guest rooms. I pushed my way through

rniture had been overturned, and

one of the younger wolves, lying unconscious

he injured wolf, trying to stem the bleeding. "We need to get

t was happening as I helped lift the wo

l and into the infirmary where our healer, a

moving with practiced efficiency as sh

ould tell it was bad. The gashes

ked Gideon, my voice

m and came running, but by the time I got there, it was too

is was exactly what the note had warned about. This attac

contained rage. "It was a warning. Whoever is behind this... they'r

reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We'll find ou

uld see the doubt in his eyes. The

-was responsible for this. And until we did, we w

and felt a surge of guilt. This had happened because of me-because I had