“It’s not too late.” I held Mum’s gaze. “It can’t be. Call the retreat. Now!”Ares squeezed my hand one last time before letting go. He crept backwards, inching slowly – on trembling legs held up by knocking knees – towards the tree line. I felt around desperately for his feelings, for a mindlink, but we were still cut off from one another. My heart dipped.“They’re closing in,” he whispered, half-turning to face us before twisting around to look out at the clearing again. “But there’s still a chance. There’s still time.”Mum was silent. Her eyes were glazed; I realised a moment later that she was talking to my dad through a mindlink when she said, “You’re right. Hang on…” She trailed off. Ares wobbled back to my side. I could feel my strength failing, and I had no doubt that his was, too. This battle couldn’t have come at a worse time. I nudged him gently. “Whatever happens, we need to get out of here. We’re sitting ducks, so long as we can’t mindlink or shift.”Mum strode over to

Wherever we went, I heard the terrifying beat of paws following us. They trailed into my dreams, too, as I dipped in and out of consciousness. At some point I’d been repositioned, and I was now slumped forward over someone’s wolven back. I couldn’t even open my eyes for long enough to look at the colour of the fur on the back that carried me. Somehow, the dreams were worse than the nightmarish reality I currently existed in. They were swirling, inky darkness and endless, icy cold; they were the chains around my legs and the feel of water swallowing my head whole. My lungs were pulsing with cold water, and every breath I took brought me closer to death. Then I would jolt awake – only to remember where this torturous journey was taking us. If we even survived it. To Nazte. To the man that had done that to me. Mercilessly, I was plunged back into the hazy horror of my memories, and the circle began all over again. Sometimes, the memories I was plagued by changed. I saw Ares, slumped li

I winced as the medic tapped on my freshly bound leg. Medic Olia was a middle-aged woman with hair just starting to grey at her temples, which made her look distinguished and wise rather than old. I’d expected to be treated by the same medic that had seen me before, but Cendres had told me that Winterpaw trained up a lot more of their wolves as medics, due to the harsh nature of their territory’s climate, as he’d guided my family and I to the medical centre. I’d been glad of the change as she’d looked me over, the fire warming one side of my face, snow falling outside and piling up on the windowsill.But, even though she’d been nothing but nice to me – shockingly, considering how I’d been treated by Winterpaw Warrior wolves in the past – I’d remained stiff as a log the whole time she’d been looking at my cuts. Her visage had blurred every time she’d bent over me, her face becoming youthful and enthusiastic – her face becoming Flora’s.“The poultice should draw out the infection,” she

The days dragged on. If my life had been a whirlwind before, now it became the stagnant water of a green pond. The more time I spent back in Winterpaw, the more bizarre the normality of it all began to feel. There was an undercurrent of unease that cut through every too-normal conversation, that was present every time a wolf called me Luna or ducked their head in respect when I passed.I fell into a routine of malaise: I woke to the knock of the medic, who checked on Ares, who was still yet to wake, and then checked my leg, which was healing well. I trained as best I could, sitting on an upturned bucket and exercising my arms with a sword, wishing Ares would wake all the while. I watched my dad integrate with the Winterpaw Warrior Wolves, and watched my mum keep her distance from them, a scowl permanently fixed on her mouth. I dug the tip of my sword into the snow with a sigh. Across from me, Nana Baspy folded her arms.“We’re training for a battle,” I muttered, my gaze sliding over

I tripped over my own feet I moved so fast. I surged ahead of both Cendres and Medic Olia, my heart pounding so loudly in my chest that I couldn’t hear myself think. Not that it mattered – there was only one thought drumming through me, a name beating out a rhythm in perfect time with my heart.The ice was finally starting to thaw around my soul. Ares was awake.“I’ve been looking all over for the two of you,” said Medic Olia breathlessly, her arms pumping furiously at her sides. “I’ve had Omegas and the other medics rushing from the training grounds to the dining hall to the meeting rooms. Trying your room was a last ditch attempt, Beta Cendres – and one I wish I’d resorted to earlier. But you are so rarely there nowadays, and as for Luna Haile, well – her being with you was a stroke of luck, I suppose.”He waved a hand. “You’ve found us now. That’s all that matters.”I nodded along, only half listening. My head and heart were pounding; anticipation swelled in my belly, making my mo