Chapter 11

The embers of the Ancestral Moon Hunt weren't even cold before Lysander's punishment fell over us like a blizzard.First the winter grain stores were cut by thirty percent. Then the herbs for winter fevers were seized wholesale. Even our patrol rights along the Outer Reach border were pulled back under the main pack's "unified coordination," along with an announcement that they would be sending inspectors to audit our supplies.He wanted revenge. He wanted to make me crawl."If this keeps up, the people won't survive the winter," The people’s voices were laced with anxiety.I just shook my head.Well before the Moon Hunt, under the cover of reviewing old tribute accounts, I'd mapped every supply line the Outer Reach had. What the main pack thought it controlled — the grain routes, the herb routes — I'd already quietly taken hold of. As long as we had coin, we'd make it through."Pass the word. Give thirty percent of the stored grain to the elderly, the women, and the children. Move the

Chapter 12

Half a month later, an unexpected invitation came for me.Evelyn was hosting a night banquet at the main pack's palace and was specifically inviting me — the Luna of the Dark Wolf pack — to attend. For the stated purpose of "mending relations."Word was, things between Lysander and Evelyn had been shifting.He'd been staying in the council chambers late into the night. He kept asking about the Outer Reach. He'd even gone out of his way to say, publicly, that I was a perfect Luna — but he hadn't been returning to Evelyn's chambers.The rumors were true, then.Evelyn was panicking. Without Lysander's favor, she had nothing.I knew she was planning something, but I went anyway.I would not be a Luna who flinched.The moment I walked into the hall I felt eyes on me — the wrong kind. I pretended not to notice and went straight to a table in the corner.Evelyn swept in in an elaborate white fox fur, a ring of maids around her. Her eyes scanned the hall and locked on me. She came straight to

Chapter 13

Three days later an order from the main pack arrived at the Dark Wolf pack. The outer wolves of the Forbidden Forest had gone feral. There was a plague among them. Kane was to personally patrol the borders of the Forbidden Forest, restore order, and prove his ability. If he succeeded, his right to the line of succession would be restored.Everyone knew what that place was. A hundred warriors could go in and not one come out.My eyes were burning."They want you dead. That's the whole point."Kane walked over and took my hand. "I know. But I can't refuse.""Why? You know it's a trap.""If I refuse, they'll have their reason to march on the Outer Reach directly." His eyes were heavy. "And then it's our people who pay."I knew his mind was already made up. I didn't argue. I just held on to him. "You come back to me."He held me back. "I will."He paused, then asked, "If I don't — can you hold this place?"I looked up at him. My voice didn't waver."This is my home too. I'll hold it with m

Chapter 14

The news that Kane was missing sent the Dark Wolf keep into chaos.The warriors had followed the Old Dark Wolf King into battle for years. They had watched Kane build the Outer Reach back up against the main pack's constant pressure. Now their one anchor was gone. They were wolves without a direction.If Kane's death was confirmed, this long-suppressed pack would be swallowed within weeks.As I'd guessed — the day after the news broke, the main pack's decree arrived. It said the Dark Wolf line shouldn't have remained in the line of succession to begin with. If I knew what was good for me, I would lead the Outer Reach back under the main pack's rule, under Lysander.Evelyn came to the Outer Reach in person. She wore her elaborate fox fur, her face shining with the smile of someone who thought she had already won, and she brought a full squad of elite main-pack guards behind her.She stepped before me and looked down at me with condescension."I'm speaking for His Highness Lysander. He's

Chapter 15

I waited, on edge, until word finally came from the main pack.The Old Alpha King was furious. He suspended Lysander's authority as heir on the spot, ordered him confined to his chambers, and sent an investigator to go through the Ashmore family's corruption case from top to bottom.Overnight, Lysander stopped being the untouchable heir. The factions in the Council of Elders that had attached themselves to him started peeling off. The Ashmore estate was raided and sealed. Evelyn was confined to her palace rooms.Lysander knew. He had lost everything. But he wouldn't accept it. He couldn't just lose everything.He blamed all of it on Sabrina. If she hadn't existed, he'd still be the heir every wolf bowed to."Sabrina — I'm not letting you get away with this!" he roared in his chambers. His eyes were going somewhere past rage.He ignored the Old Alpha King's confinement order. He pulled together his personal guards and his most loyal men — everyone he still had the authority over — and r

Chapter 16

Deep-night snow. Howling wind. Thick flakes falling fast.Someone hammered me awake. I threw a coat on and hurried to the wall.Lysander and his men had the Dark Wolf keep surrounded."Lysander. Are you trying to stage a coup? The Old Alpha King has stripped you of your heir status. You've mobilized private forces to lay siege to the Outer Reach. Are you openly defying the King?""Coup?" Lysander laughed. "I already have nothing left. What is there to be afraid of? Sabrina — this is because of you. If I go down, you go down with me."I kept my grip tight on the dagger Kane had left me. I forced my voice level."Lysander. The Old Alpha King already knows what you've done. Killing me doesn't save you.""Save me? Why would I try to save myself?" He laughed again, ugly. "I said it already. I have nothing left."He raised his hand. The men behind him lifted their torches and lit up the dark. Steel gleamed cold in the firelight. They were ready to charge.My heart was in my throat. He had lo