MOON'S REBELLION

ees. There was a thrill of hunting in my veins, yet a nagging concern tugged relentlessl

hear the rest of the pack spread out behind me, their excited yips urging me

buck stood frozen for a split second, its eyes wide with terror. I

e. In that moment of hesitation, the deer bolted.

f command still echoed in my

e, sense his pain and frustration. With a last

scent. I found him sprawled in a bed of ferns, his

d his side, dropping to my knee besid

's naught. My damned leg gave out again. G

The pack needs its alpha whole and st

e of pride and irritation. "I'm not some invalid pu

ane Thornheart was in the lead, his russet fur bristling with excitement. He skidded

ed, shifting forms. "Why did

ce calm. "There was an incident. The a

ape for this? Some future leader you'll mak

e. I made a judgment call as acting alpha. You would h

voring his right hind leg. "This solves nothing. Zane, take half the hunters and see if y

ed satisfaction. "Of course, Alpha Garrick

ust handed my rival a victory. But a glance at my father's pained expression d

f disappointed stares from the remaining pack members. Their hunger and frus

ing, her silver-streaked dark hair wild aroun

wled, but he leaned heavy on her offered ar

in my stomach. How much longer could my father keep up the p

is hunters had returned, dragging the carcass of a young doe between th

. He raised his voice so I could hear every word: "See how a true leader p

ists, fighting the urge to shift and attack him right then and th

forest around me. I needed some time to wrack my

in around me, except for the leaves crunching beneath my feet and the occasional owl

the gloom. I slipped inside; the musty scent of earth and stone filled my nostrils as I

center of this was a pool of crystalline water, its surface shimmering with a soft, ethereal glow. This

cool water. "What am I supposed to do?" I whispered to the empt

nt, I could have sworn I saw a flash of something in its depth

blinding light. I stumbled back, shielding my

t. His eyes shone with ancient wisdom as he regarded me. Then he

time of your greatest trial approaches. Choices are to be made th

erworldly being. "I don't understand," I forced

beyond tradition. Believe in the bonds of the heart. The path of th

the apparition dissolved into m

ol. My mind reeled, trying to make sense of what I'd just witnesse

in-nothing would ev