Page 4

Then he sighed, shaking his head. "I'd be more likely to believe that if you weren't all still covered in mud from wrestling near the river."

Hagan glanced down at his dirt-streaked tunic, biting back a curse.

Dain shoved a wedge of orange into his mouth, speaking around it. "We—we are needed, though."

Marrok's weathered gaze slid to Hagan. "You're the future Highclaw. You can't run from duty forever. Schoolwork, training—it all matters."

Hagan sighed. He knew that. But right now, they had a territory border to reach, and he had no interest in being stuck discussing battle tactics in a dim hall.

"Of course, Elder," he said, mustering up his most obedient tone. "We'll be sure to take it seriously."

Marrok's expression said he wasn't fooled, but he grunted and let them go.

The moment they were out of earshot, Veyr let out a low whistle.

"Strategic patrol formations? Really?" Hagan smirked.

"It worked, didn't it?" Veyr shot back.

"I'd say that was my acting that sealed it," Dain declared, reaching for the jerky in his pocket. "Very convincing chewing, wouldn't you agree?"

Hagan chuckled, shoving Dain's shoulder as they broke into a run.

"Enough talking. Let's go see what's at the edge of the world."

------------------------------------------------------------

"Did you hear that?" Dain's voice was low, but the tightness in it sliced through the cool night air.

They were crouched behind a rotting log, watching the campsite.

Veyr stilled, his nostrils flaring. "We need to leave. Now."

Hagan smirked, unfazed. "Scared?"

Veyr shot him a hard look. "We came to observe. We've seen enough. They're barely a pack—just savages with no order. The way they treat their own"

A branch snapped.

The air shifted.

And then—a growl. Deep. Guttural. Starved.

They had been seen.

"Little wolves," a voice rasped from the shadows, thick with amusement, full of hunger.

A figure rose from the darkness, massive, his scarred body nothing but coiled muscle and bloodlust. One of the Forsaken.

The largest male they had seen.

His yellowed teeth flashed.

Then—he lunged.

"RUN!" Dain bellowed.

They tore through the trees, their wolves pushing forward, paws barely touching the earth.