Emory Chav’re woke up knowing that this was the day she’d been anticipating for so long.

But her night had been restless. She lay on the simple bed in her cabin room, a bubble of joy and grief caught in her chest. She couldn’t fall asleep to the soft hush of the Broiia forest tonight, which usually soothed her into the deepest sleep.

Eyes wide in the dark, she stared up at the wooden ceiling, tracing the patterns in the grains of wood that she knew so well. Rolling onto her side, Emory tried to find comfort, but couldn’t.

Was it really loss when she couldn’t remember Trey, Nolan, or Larc, their faces blurring like their parents in the recesses of her mind? Maybe this trip can give her the closure she needed, a chance to finally put her past to rest.

The pre-dawn air was cool and crisp, a gentle mist rising from the earth. Emory and Aunt Kinshra moved through their morning rituals in silence, making their final preparations.

By the time they were ready to leave, the sky was a canvas of deep blues and purples, the last stars fading as the first light of dawn peeked over the horizon. The scent of moist earth and pine filled Emory’s lungs, a bittersweet reminder of what she was leaving behind.

Outside, the Jeep idled, a sturdy vehicle that could handle the rugged terrain between Broiia and Kedar. From behind the wheel, Kellan waved to them as they piled their luggage into the boot. Emory glanced at the cabin one more time, its moss-covered roof and wooden walls were now just another part of the forest.

It took three hours to get to Kedar, mostly because of the horrible road. It was a long dirt and gravel road that waded through dense forests and over rolling hills. There was uncomfortable silence, interrupted by the occasional sound of wildlife, and the world around them waking up. She watched Kinshra staring straight ahead with a knot of worry and admiration in her stomach.

Kinshra was a Hunter Wolf, and they were different from regular wolves. They could access their dormant Lycan gene, allowing them to shift into a towering humanoid Lycan form—different from the more common wolf transformation. This gave them not just a fighting chance, but also an edge in combat with Lycans; their bites carried poison that killed them. Each Hunter Wolf also had a unique ability. Aunt Kinshra had heightened hearing, so she could hear distant sounds like they were whispered right to her. Many times, this gift had proved invaluable.

Thousands of years ago, the Hunter Wolves tradition rose with the sacrifice of her forefathers, the Ultima Wolves. But faith in these stories has faded over the years, with no new Hunter Wolf rising in the last two Hunter Moons. Their once-vibrant anticipation had dulled into resigned disbelief. They’d lose this war without the Hunter Wolves.

They travelled to Kedar with the rising sun, the roads a blur of green and gold. She felt a knot of nervousness tighten in her stomach as they got closer to the border. This was the closest she’d been to the Hecark border in years, and it sent a wave of anxiety through her. Her palms were sweaty even in the cool morning air.

As they approached the border crossing, Aunt Kinshra tensed and her eyes scanned the dense foliage that lined the road. “There’s a checkpoint up ahead, Lycans,” she whispered with a certainty that sent a jolt down Emory’s spine.

As her aunt spoke, Kellan cast a quick, worried glance at them in the back seat. Immediately, Emory reached down to feel the reassuring cold metal of her blades on her boots.

“Kellan, it’ll be okay. Just pull over and stay in your car,” Aunt Kinshra told him, downplaying the danger. Then, turning to Emory with a grim smile, she asked, “Ready to go up against a Lycan?”

“Only one way to find out,” Emory replied, matching her aunt’s smile.

“Whatever you do,” Kinshra said as she drew Emory’s cloak hood over her head and tucked her red curls in tight. “Keep your eyes down and don’t take it off. We don’t want them to know who you are.”

Looking forward to finally facing Lycans in their transformed form made her excited. She wanted to see them up close, to see their power, and, if fate so chose, to test her own strength against theirs.

As they crossed the borderline of the Hecark Province to Kedar, their car stalled beside a boulder by the toll-gate. Six Lycans stepped forward to surround the Jeep. They wore the imperial uniforms of deep blue and gold. Really, it seemed unthinkable—why would Lycans try to attack them on a well-travelled path and at a toll-gate?

Without hesitation, Aunt Kinshra got out of the car. Her transformation was quick and unexpected. Her body morphed into an imposing Hunter Wolf, a sight that stunned Emory even with her preparation. Taken aback, the Lycans called out commands in their own language, five of them changing into their beastly forms, and one turned tail, probably to bring reinforcements.

Emory didn’t hang around to watch her aunt kick ass. Jumping out of the Jeep, she shifted into her wolf and chased the Lycan. As an Ultima, she was fast. Faster than wolves, even faster than most Lycans. Catching up to him, she tackled him, shifting back into her human form as they tumbled down the hillside.

Rolling to a stop, she jumped up, facing the Lycan. She had never fought a Lycan in combat, and his strength was overwhelming. With a powerful heave, he threw her off, regaining his footing and shifting into his Lycan form, recognizing she wasn’t a Hunter Wolf.

He looked at her from head to toe, his gaze sharpening in a way that set Emory’s nerves on edge, followed by a howl that sent a shiver down her spine. Damn it! He probably alerted a nearby squadron to their presence.

The moment he lunged forward, Emory’s instincts kicked in. Putting her agility to work, she shifted into her wolf again. She slipped under his grasp and shifted back into her human form for a solid kick against his chin. The Lycan stumbled back, more irritated than injured, and charged with a growl that promised revenge.

Emory danced around him. Again, she shifted back into her wolf, slipping through his legs and evading his grasp. It was a game of cat and mouse played at breakneck speed. The adrenaline flooded through her veins while her senses focused on him; he seemed more interested in grabbing her than hurting her. Her senses were heightened as she anticipated the Lycan’s move. It was exciting to test her skills against a Lycan. Each successful dodge and strike was utterly satisfying.

Aunt Kinshra’s strong Hunter Wolf form, a blur of speed and power, broke up the confrontation. Kicking him away from Emory, she growled in challenge. The Lycan tumbled away, regained himself and took off. Emory shifted back and watched as the Lycan disappeared into the woods.

Breathing heavily, Emory turned to Aunt Kinshra who shifted. “We need to move now. They’re the King’s Sentinels.” She readjusted Emory’s hood, which had come loose during the scuffle.

“What are they doing out here?” Emory wondered as she finally caught her breath.

“Searching for you,” her aunt said quietly. “That is all I can tell you right now. The Whitecrest Gammas are close, but we cannot risk running into more Sentinels.”

Emory felt a shiver of unease. Why would the royal guard, the elite warriors sworn to protect the Lycan King, be hunting for her? There were a million questions running through her head, each more troubling than the last. The Chav—res had already paid a heavy price in the ongoing war. She knew they were the Lycan King’s primary target because they were Ultima wolves. But what did the King want from her?

They scrambled uphill, their steps quick and light, back to where Kellan was waiting with the Jeep. At Aunt Kinshra’s nod, he floored the accelerator, speeding down the rugged trail to Kedar. The vehicle’s wheels barely touched the ground as they moved through the path’s twists and turns.

“Could you just give me a hint about what’s going on?” Emory pressed, her impatience mounting with every mile they covered. “Why are they hunting me?”

“Our priority is getting you to Kedar safely. You’ll get your answers from the Alpha.” Kinshra smiled and took her hand.

Angry, Emory withdrew her hand, running it through her hair. “What if we run into more of them? Kedar is still far off,” she argued. “This is madness. Trey should have sent an army if he knew the Lycans were after me, or left me alone in Broiia.”

“He sent a squadron two days ago. It didn’t turn out well. Sending an army would draw too much attention, and make you an easier target. We thought this was safer.” She paused, acknowledging the situation with a grim addition, “At least, it was meant to be.”

Yeah, safe indeed. She was sure more Lycans were on their tail after that howl. They shouldn’t have let that Lycan go.

As we sped along the trail, the Jeep jostled and bounced. Keeping her grip tight on the handle above her head, her mind raced with scenarios.

When Kinshra turned to peer into the dense foliage that flanked their path, Emory knew something was wrong. “Listen, Emory,” she said. “When I tell you to run, head straight for Kedar’s crossing and don’t dare look back.”

“And leave you? What if’” then she trailed off. “You think I’m not ready to face them?” she asked, her brow furrowed.

“Not yet. Not when they’re outnumbering us,” Kinshra replied softly, gently patting Emory’s cheek. “You have to survive. We’re outnumbered, and this is our best strategy now.”

Emory slumped back in her seat, not sure what to think. The idea of running, leaving her aunt and Kellan to face whatever danger might be on their trail, was abhorrent to her. But defiance wasn’t an option, not with what was at stake. She wasn’t interested in being captured by Lycans. The haunting echo of a Lycan hunting howl reached them, and she knew she was the quarry.

“How far out are we?” Emory asked, her gaze locked with her aunt’s.

“Thirty minutes till the crossing,” Kinshra replied, closing her eyes to help her focus. Her brow furrowed as she concentrated. “One squadron on each side.”

Twelve. The number settled in Emory’s stomach like a stone. There were twelve Lycans between them and safety, and she could barely fight one.

Continuing, Kinshra said, “They are planning to intercept us at the bottom of the slope. You have to go south. We’ll lead them away, buy you some time, but once they catch your scent’” She trailed off, the implication hanging heavily between them.

Emory smiled despite the fear forming a lump in her throat. “I can make it on foot.”

Kinshra nodded. “That’s right, Emory. Use that speed. And remember, if they follow you, I’ll be right behind them in no time.”

Anyone else would have laughed at the thought of outrunning a squadron of Lycans on foot, but not her. Besides knowing the terrain, she knew her abilities. As a Chav’re, she could run like the wind and loved it. As her hand found the door handle, ready for the moment to spring into action, a cold realization washed over her. The Lycans wouldn’t show mercy, especially not to a Hunter Wolf of Kinshra’s reputation—a warrior who had single-handedly decimated a province of their kin.

The Jeep slowed, and Kinshra’s voice cut through the silence. “Now, Emory. Run!”

Without hesitation, Emory swung the door open and catapulted into the rough road, her body shifting mid-leap into her gray wolf. The forest swallowed her whole as she breezed into it, the sounds of pursuit fading behind her as she darted through the trees.

But her escape was not as seamless as they had hoped. A snarl echoed through the woods, too close for comfort, and Emory’s heart hammered against her ribcage. She pushed herself faster, the branches whipping past her in a blur.

Then, amidst the adrenaline and the rush of the wind, the scent hit her—a scent that shouldn’t have been there, not this deep in the woods, not with the Lycans on their tail.

Emory skidded to a halt, her wolf senses reeling. Before her, coming out of the woods, was a ghost from her past that sent a shock wave through her.

“Rodyn?” The name slipped from her lips in disbelief, her human voice cutting through the night. The boy, she had left behind in Broiia, now stood before her, his eyes glowing with an all-too-familiar sheen.