Chapter 4

Across the mountain peaks and down upon the evergreen forest that sat along its edge, the dawning sun’s glow began to warm all beneath its touch.

To the north - some miles beyond the forest’s limit and past a cracked and carved canyon in the earth - a Shifter stood over the corpse of his would-be rival. This male gnashed his teeth and spat, panting after the fierce battle he had just survived, and groaned as he ran a clawed hand over his furred crotch.

The wounds there had reopened once again during this fight, something which caused him great deal of pain each time it happened. This wasn’t the first time they’d reopened within the past week, and that would only increase the amount of visible scarring when they finally did close for good. It was agony. But no matter the amount of physical pain the male wolf was in, nothing could compare to the anguish he still felt over