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."
