My heart's slamming against my ribs as I stare down the Silverclaw patrol, their eyes glinting like they've already got me in chains. The lieutenant's growl "Torin wants you. Now."—echoes in my ears, and my wrist burns where the crescent mark pulses, screaming that I'm running out of options. The black journal's heavy inside my jacket, its pages holding a clue about Isolde's curse, but I can't let these wolves take me. Not when Kael's waiting at the border, not when the Blackfangs are hunting us. I'm Lila Thorn, tracker, and I don't go down easy. My dagger's in my hand, the blade catching the torchlight, and I'm ready to fight my own pack if it comes to that.
"Back off, Rylan," I say to the lieutenant, my voice steady despite the adrenaline pumping through me. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what this is about."
Rylan, a burly wolf with a scar across his cheek, steps closer, his claws lengthening. "You've been sneaking around, Lila. Torin's done giving you chances. Drop the dagger and come quietly, or we make you."
The other two wolves flank him, their growls low and menacing. I glance at the trees, calculating my escape. The border's close, but I'll need to be fast—faster than I've ever been. My mark flares, and I feel Kael, like a pull in my chest, strong and steady. He's out there, and I know he'll come for me if I don't make it. "Last chance," I say, my voice sharp. "Let me go, or this gets ugly."
Rylan laughs, a harsh sound that grates on my nerves. "You're outnumbered, Thorn. Don't be stupid."
Stupid's my middle name. I bolt, ducking under Rylan's swipe and sprinting for the trees. Their roars chase me, and I hear their paws pounding the dirt. My tracker instincts kick in, guiding me through the forest's twists and turns. I weave between pines, my boots slipping on leaves, my breath burning in my lungs. A claw grazes my arm, tearing my jacket, and I hiss, swinging my dagger back. It catches one wolf's shoulder, and he yelps, slowing just enough for me to gain ground.
The border's in sight, a faint shift in the air where Silverclaw territory ends. My mark's on fire, and I know Kael's close. "Kael!" I shout, my voice raw, hoping he hears me. A shadow moves ahead, and there he is—tall, scarred, his gray eyes blazing as he charges toward me. His claws are out, and he's all Alpha, a force of nature I'm stupidly glad to see.
"Get down!" he barks, and I drop, sliding under a low branch. Kael leaps over me, slamming into Rylan with a force that shakes the ground. The other wolves hesitate, caught off guard by a banished Alpha in their midst. I scramble up, my dagger ready, and take on the wounded one, my blade flashing. He's slower now, and I kick his legs out, sending him sprawling.
"Lila, go!" Kael yells, grappling with Rylan. But I'm not leaving him. I lunge at the third wolf, my dagger slicing his arm. He roars, but Kael's Alpha growl rips through the air, a command that makes the wolves freeze. "Stand down!" he snarls, and I swear the forest itself listens.
Rylan's eyes flicker with fear, but he holds his ground. "You're a traitor, Draven. Torin'll have your head for this."
"Tell Torin he's wrong about me," Kael says, his voice deadly calm. "And about Lila. Now run."
The wolves back off, tails low, and disappear into the trees. I'm panting, blood dripping from a scratch on my arm, my mark burning like a brand. Kael turns to me, his chest heaving, his eyes searching mine. "You okay?" he asks, his voice softer now, almost gentle.
"Yeah," I say, catching my breath. "But we're screwed. Torin's gonna know I'm with you now. No way Rylan keeps his mouth shut."
Kael nods, his jaw tight. "Then we move fast. What'd you find in the archives?"
I pull the journal from my jacket, its crescent moon cover glinting in the starlight. "This. It's got stuff about Isolde—her blood magic, how she binds curses. There's a mention of a relic, something called the 'heart of the moon,' in some ancient ruins. Might be a way to break the curse."
His eyes light up, a spark of hope I haven't seen before. "The ruins," he says, almost to himself. "I know the place. Old werewolf site, hidden in rogue territory. It's a long shot, but it's our best lead."
I tuck the journal back, my mind racing. Rogue territory's no joke—lawless, full of outcasts who'd sell us out for a scrap of meat. But if this relic can stop the curse, it's worth the risk. "Then we go," I say, meeting his gaze. "But we need to be smart. The Blackfangs are probably tracking us, and now Torin's after me too."
Kael steps closer, and the mate bond hums, making my skin prickle. "You don't have to do this, Lila. You could still go back, tell Torin you were scouting, make up a story—"
I cut him off, my voice sharp. "Stop it, Kael. I'm not bailing. This mark's my problem too, and I'm not letting you die because of it. So quit trying to play hero and let's move."
He stares at me, and for a second, I think he's gonna argue. Then he nods, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "You're something else, Thorn."
"Yeah, well, you're stuck with me," I say, ignoring the way my heart skips. The bond's stronger since the ritual, and it's messing with me, making me notice the way his scars catch the light, the way his voice softens when he says my name. I turn away, my cheeks hot. "Come on. We've got a relic to find."
We head deeper into neutral territory, aiming for the rogue lands. My mark's still burning, and every step feels like a gamble. I think of Jace, probably tearing his hair out, and Mara, hurt by my secrets. Guilt claws at me, but I push it down. I'll make it right—after we break this curse. The forest's quiet, but I know it's a lie. The Blackfangs are out there, and now my own pack's against me.
A rustle in the bushes makes me freeze, my dagger out. Kael's claws flash, his body tense. "Show yourself," he growls, his voice carrying that Alpha edge.
A lone wolf steps out, not Blackfang or Silverclaw, but a rogue—lean, with matted fur and wary eyes. "Heard you're looking for the ruins," he says, his voice rough. "I know the way. For a price."
My mark flares, and I exchange a look with Kael. This could be a trap, but it could also be our only shot. "What's the price?" I ask, my voice hard.
The rogue grins, showing sharp teeth. "Safe passage through rogue lands. And a favor, to be named later."
Kael's growl is low, but I put a hand on his arm, ignoring the spark from the bond. "Deal," I say, my eyes locked on the rogue. "But if you cross us, you're dead."
He nods, and we follow, my mark burning, my heart pounding. The ruins are close, but so is danger, and I'm not sure which we'll find first.