THE YOUNG HAUNTED ALPHA

TER

crept slowly o

in a soft golde

vealing the de

llage, its toweri

nels. The previou

air, palpable and

e threat loomin

arly, his mind fil

new Magnus was w

moment to stri

be caught

to the trainin

y running drills

e air was filled

heavy grunts, an

ors honing thei

s approach and

sweat fro

re up

id, tossin

one of th

dn't

ave a gr

's too

every minute to

ecruits h

ck at the traine

pride and

eager,

. Magnus won't

toughen the

ic n

ave the lux

on building the

instincts. We're

we're training

Elena joined th

ng Alaric's spiri

he silver tips

ing

king?" she aske

he trainin

making

ric r

ut

for anything. M

w, or next week.

ila

dded in

sent s

borders. If Magnu

we'l

e her a gr

. Let

. We need to be

e c

or in t

d below the hori

village, Alaric s

uskwood. He co

ething was comin

ual sounds of nig

leaves-eerily ab

est held its b

growl broke th

s on high alert.

ne of the scout

is face was p

s if he had run

ppi

ed out, stumbling

Ala

agnus. He's c

's... he's alone,

by n

s eyes

That doe

't come here wit

a t

his express

migh

for you in the cl

e wanted to sp

o

eard the commoti

Alaric's, fil

u'r

g of going, are y

he

s jaw t

s is will

pportunity to gaug

ruly up against.

p

d his arm, h

u'r

. I'm comin

ated, th

. But we

This could

em, his face a

up ready. If any

al, and we'll be

o his friend, Alar

his side. The d

they made their

ari

Chal

by the old oa

arled branches of

shadows on the

as Magnus, his

light. He looke

o the ruthless p

storie

to the clearing,

moved silently

eady in h

cided t

s said,

the corners

impre

famous Alaric Sil

it so

't a trap

replied

I

ack, you would've

do you

, the sound low

point. I like tha

ice, Alaric. Yo

ou've proven yo

rse of Silverho

will to use

getting at?" A

s arms, as if em

se

ether, we cou

e packs under o

s crumble. You k

re belongs to th

forward, her

Y

etray his pack, hi

like

her, his yellow

sem

Lead. I offer

omething greate

above the petty s

lv

curled into fis

I

my path, Magnus

my family. I wo

isted visio

vanished, repla

alculat

ted as m

ic-when the tim

emember that you

id

vement, Magnus

eady, meeting hi

with a force tha

ring. Magnus was

nticipated. They

h, neither willin

the fray, her da

he aimed a slash

away, his mov

. He snarled, a

d swiped at her

odged, rolling t

t left no

ned, his chest h

expression a

g else-a

ve ma

be it. When next

a

k, Magnus turned

pearing into the

part

stood in the cl

locked on the s

air was thick wi

he unspoken prom

c

e not

said q

s st

we th

his fists, his

T

es ready. Magnu

seen our streng

hing we're

determination bu

ack. We'll train h

es, we'll be re

fierce smile spr

a

m regret ever

terr

r way back to the

ne thing for cert

over. The hun

ted alpha, was

bl

RING

skwood buzzed wit

self for the co

agnus had lit a

, a renewed se

the air. Everyo

distant threat b

ime for compla

he heart of the v

d and crafted w

d of arrows hitti

d filled the air

ty of his respon

e never before.

ly. He had vowed

would n

, her steps ligh

s were alight

stark contrast

She handed him

bs and salves-m

r the upcom

ing up?" Alaric

ut st

round the villa

their pac

re sca

ger ones have n

's been pushing

repa

ic n

on't wait

lve. We need to

t m

oftened as she

W

urvived curses,

etween. We'll s

weight of their

d himself to smil

uiding light in

ook her hand, squ

a. I couldn't do

back, her eye

A

never h

ncil's

over Duskwood,

ouncil hall. The

rches, casting l

ric stood at the

erious. Beside h

whom had beco

iso

in total-were s

with age and exp

fall of many alp

given them hope

ould decide the

ng b

now why w

ic beg

ce

oming, and h

erything we've bu

ad

rs, an older wo

ward, her

gnu

hless, but his

the rogues. We n

e've heard rumou

can't be

ic int

but f

lid strateg

current s

ned, his broad

he patrols on ou

ing hard. We've fo

, but if Magnu

has, we'll nee

fe

dded tho

about

out to the nei

tepped

nt messe

and Ironwood

scouts, but the

ces. Magnus's re

aid of becoming

ell over the room

al support, they

agnus's numbers

helm them, but

more da

er, Garrick

can't

we'll need to f

ngth against

hink

a plan formin

e

e forest, use t

know these woo

an lure Magnus'

ht be able to

e glint of battle

like it. Let's

g foot in o

nd of

persed, Alaric lin

with plans and

behind, sensi

thinking

id softl

on hi

o rest. You

if you're

her a we

It's ju

's not just a battl

the line.

on't

rrupted, her

iet con

in you, A

k. We're all in

reath, letting h

ht. He couldn't

th of the pack wa

shared

ank

is voice alm

to he

small, comfo

t's

ear our heads

gi

l together, stepp

llage was quiet,

s. They walked in

etween them stro

the edge of th

rning to l

, if s

ns to

on

im off, her

n't

going to make it

h w

gaze, seeing t

g to

t you to kn

grateful for you

cupping his fa

ng goodbye, Alar

er touch, closin

ht of his respon

emained was th

ady beat of her h

re W

about to turn ba

eir attention. A

lert. Elena drew

and ready

s, a figure stu

scouts, bloodied

hing

lp

sped, collapsi

e

he's comi

s heart

w m

led to speak, hi

is

ozens, maybe

They'll be he

side the scout

W

lert the

ed, his exp

eve

This

a sprint, her vo

e warriors to pre

s feet, his min

of the s

his move soone

left for plans o

was upo

, his eyes blazin

he heart of the

ck rising to arm

ni

ent they had tra

and unity. He wo

and the future

d face Magnus h

co

had become

ttle was abo