Chapter Thirty-Nine: Wolf Moon

Silvia POV

"Wolf Moon," I say slowly. So many memories crowd my mind. "Next month will be Wolf Moon, that's in just ..." I think back to the events of the past few weeks that have felt more like months or even longer. "... ten days!"

Darius is staring straight ahead, transfixed by the scene unfolding before our eyes.

I recognize my old home, the Wildlands. But it seems somehow smaller. The training ground looks dusty and ragged. The earth is torn up with weeds. The houses look rundown and the fields are patchy with limp-looking crops. Dust settles everywhere. Even the pine trees seem dimished. Thinner or thinned out, I can't be sure.

It is not the same verdant land of my memory.

As we watch, three figures climb the hill toward the packhouse. They bang on the huge oak doors. The doors remain closed though there is light within. In the darkness below the three, there is movement. At some invisible command, a pack leaps from cover and rushes toward them.

The attackers are intercepte