The knife went in below the ribs. Kael twisted twice before the body stopped twitching.He pulled the blade free and let the wolf drop. Two more circled him in the drainage culvert, moonlight slicing through the grate above. Their eyes glowed yellow. Their teeth were out. They had not shifted fully. They wanted him to see their faces.Kael knew both of them. Runners. Low-rank pack wolves who delivered messages and fetched meat. He had trained with them. He had shared fire with them.Now they wanted him dead.The first one came low, aiming for his knees. Kael sidestepped and drove his elbow into the wolf's temple. Bone cracked. The wolf went down hard but not dead. Kael did not have time to finish him. The second wolf was already airborne, claws extended, mouth open for his throat.Kael caught the wolf's wrist. He twisted. The wolf screamed as the joint snapped. Kael used the momentum to slam the wolf's head against the concrete wall. The body went limp.Three down. One dead. Two uncon

Kael did not draw the knife.He stood there, fingers wrapped around the handle, and watched Theron's face. The fear was real. The hesitation was real. But so was the lie."I'll find the truth myself," Kael said. He released the knife and stepped back. "And when I do, if you're the one who sold me out, I'll come back."Theron opened his mouth to speak. Kael was already gone.The corridor was empty. Kael moved fast. His arm throbbed with every step. The bandages were red again. He ignored them.He knew where to go.Joric. The elder who approved the patrol schedule. The old wolf who sat on the council and stamped every order. If anyone knew who had access to the rotation, it was him.Kael found Joric in his quarters. The old man was at his desk, reading by candlelight. He looked up when Kael entered. His eyes widened."Kael. You're awake. I heard—""The patrol schedule," Kael said. "Who else saw it before it was posted?"Joric blinked. "I—you're bleeding. You should—""Answer the questio

Kael folded the paper and put it in his pocket.He looked at Mira. She was watching him with those dark, unreadable eyes. Her hands were steady. Her breathing was calm."Stay here," Kael said. "Don't leave the infirmary.""I wasn't planning to."He turned and walked to the door. His hand was on the handle when she spoke again."Kael."He stopped."Be careful," she said. "Voss is not stupid. He'll know you're coming."Kael did not respond. He opened the door and walked out.---The compound was waking up. Wolves moved through the corridors. They nodded at him as he passed. Some of them looked at his blood-soaked arm and looked away.Kael walked with purpose. He did not slow down. He did not hide.He found Voss in the strategy room. The tactical officer was alone. He was studying a map of the valley. His back was to the door.Kael closed the door behind him. The click was loud.Voss turned. His face was calm. His eyes were sharp."You're up," Voss said. "I heard about the ambush. You sh

Kael collapsed behind a fallen log.His arm was on fire. The fever was back. His vision swam. He pressed his back against the rotting wood and tried to breathe.The Rusted Stag was half a mile behind him. The compound was two miles the other way. He was in no man's land. Hunted. Alone.He closed his eyes. Just for a moment. Just to rest.A twig snapped.Kael's eyes opened. His hand found the knife. He rolled to his knees, blade ready.A figure stood twenty feet away. Small. Slender. Female.Sera Wynn.She was holding a satchel. Her face was pale. Her eyes were wide."Don't," she said. "I'm not here to hurt you."Kael did not lower the knife. "How did you find me?""I followed the blood trail. You're bleeding everywhere."He looked down. His arm was soaked. The bandages were useless. He had left a path any wolf could follow."I brought supplies," Sera said. She held up the satchel. "Bandages. Clean water. Food.""Why?"She stepped closer. Slowly. Carefully. "Because you're innocent. An

The trading post sat at the valley's eastern edge.Kael watched it from the treeline. Two-story building. Stone foundation. Wooden walls. A fence of sharpened stakes surrounded the perimeter. Humans moved inside. Armed. Watchful.Gareth Vane's operation.Kael had been watching for an hour. He counted six guards. Three at the gate. Two on the roof. One patrolling the fence line. All carried rifles. Silver ammunition. He could smell it from here.He needed to get inside.Mira had given him a cover story. A rogue wolf looking for work. Desperate. Willing to do anything. The Consortium needed wolves. Wolves who knew pack territory. Wolves who could guide human hunters through the valley.Kael was the perfect candidate.He stepped out of the treeline. His hands were up. His knife was visible at his belt. He walked slowly toward the gate.The guards saw him immediately. Rifles raised. Voices shouted."Stop. Identify yourself."Kael stopped. His voice was calm. "I'm looking for work. I was t