1

At the pack's migration council, Rebecca Hale made exactly the same proposal as she had in my past life.

"We've walked the old road so many times. Aren't you all sick of it?

"Let's break off from the main column this year and take the shortcut past Blackwind Gorge.

"When we're thirsty, we'll drink fresh dew at the foot of the mountain. When we're tired, we'll lie on the rocks and count the stars.

"Half a bag of rations each, and we'll reach the south ten days before the main column."

The young wolves below cheered, tails whipping back and forth.

"Arriving ten days early means we can claim half the hunting grounds before anyone else. Rebecca always has the best ideas!"

"The main column brings whole families and crawls along. Going with them is a waste of time."

A wolf in the crowd suddenly raised his head and asked uncertainly, "But isn't Blackwind Gorge forbidden territory? Isn't it dangerous?"

Stefan turned to me at once.

"Elara, hasn't your family guarded Blackwind for generations?

"You know the route best, so guide everyone through the shortcut."

I looked up, my expression unreadable.

"Follow that plan, and every one of you will die."

Gasps erupted across the hall.

"Every one of us? You're exaggerating!"

I did not argue. I simply turned to face the room and enunciated each word.

"On the safest schedule, a proper migration takes at least twenty-five days.

"The rains have been heavy this year, and full moons have been scarce. That severely limits our ability to defend ourselves.

"The main column has three top-ranking Alphas scouting the entire route. They mark every safe water source, sheltered cave, and hunting spot. Two healers also travel with the column from beginning to end. Even then, safety is only barely assured.

"Blackwind Gorge is filled with poison fog, rogues, and all kinds of venomous snakes.

"Without the main column or the healers, there is no way to guarantee our safety."

The whole hall burst out laughing.

"Three bags of rations? What are we, pack mules?"

"Elara has let the older generation get into her head. No wonder she's such a coward."

Stefan's face darkened, and there was an edge in his voice.

"We're packmates who grew up together. You don't have to be so rigid.

"It's on your way anyway. Just take everyone through the shortcut."

I shook my head, refusing to budge.

"Blackwind has poison fog and rogues. I won't gamble with anyone's life.

"Not unless every one of you signs a waiver accepting full responsibility for whatever happens."

That set the whole hall off.

A crowd of wolves pressed in around my stone seat, all of them accusing me at once.

"Elara, you're selfish and you're a coward!"

"It's one guided trip, and now we have to sign waivers?"

"Does growing up together really mean less to you than a piece of paper?"

Rebecca seized the moment and stepped forward to take control of the room.

"Don't let her scare you!"

She raised one paw and unfurled the route map she had prepared in advance.

"I've mapped the whole route. Each wolf needs only half a bag of rations.

"We can shelter in wild-wolf dens along the way and never waste energy building our own.

"At night, we can eat the berries we gather and drink from nearby mountain springs.

"We'll follow the well-worn animal trails the rogues use and cut the journey in half.

"Independent. Free. That's how young wolves should migrate."

The hall boiled over. Everyone was behind Rebecca.

"Rebecca thinks of everything. She's a brilliant planner!"

"What's the point of clinging to the same tired precautions? A bold new shortcut is what real progress looks like!"

Then the jeering turned on me.

"Here's hoping your family's border guard is out of a job soon!"

"All she sees is herself. No loyalty to her own kind at all."

After blaming me, the young wolves went back to discussing the views and game they expected to find along the way.

A cold laugh rose in my chest.

They were so sure of themselves!

The risks on that route were far worse than anything they imagined.

First came the poison fog.

The fog in Blackwind drifts wherever the wind carries it. One step into it, and in less than eight minutes, a wolf's blood-sense shuts down and every limb goes weak.

Deep in the gorge, there are no packs or supplies within a hundred miles. Blood-sense fails completely, and one wrong turn can leave a traveler lost for good.

A heavy dose of the fog acts fast. It can kill a wolf within an hour.

Then there are the rogues and venomous snakes lying in wait.

Rogues roam in packs and pick off wolves traveling alone.

The snakes there can kill with a single bite.

Because my family guarded the border, I had heard too many stories of young wolves who followed the crowd onto that shortcut, relied on other territories for shelter, and ended with nothing left to bury.

Some young she-wolves who became separated were abducted and never returned to their packs.

Some males who took the shortcut together were robbed and murdered by rogues, then left in the gorge for vultures to devour.

In my past life, I had fought with everything I had to keep them out of that gorge.

All so the packmates I grew up with could migrate safely.

Even when they suspected my motives. Even when they called me a coward.

I still went from Alpha to Alpha, warning them one by one until every pack backed out.

The only one I couldn't stop was Rebecca.

She entered the depths of the gorge alone.

As expected, we lost contact with Rebecca on the second day.

A week later, her body was found among the loose rocks.

I thought the packmates I had saved would be grateful.

I never imagined I would still die at the hands of the mate closest to me.

And even dead, those ungrateful packmates went on desecrating my body...

So this time around, watching my own kind work themselves into the same frenzy, I said nothing more.

They didn't want the help.

So let them answer for their own choices.