Ivy’s POV

The circle beneath my feet burned brighter, humming as though it had come alive, like it could hear my heart hammering inside my chest. I tried to step back again, but it held me there, the air pressing heavy and tight as if the ground itself wouldn’t let me go.

“I don’t want to do this,” I whispered, panic crawling through my veins.

Alaric didn’t flinch. “That’s not your choice anymore.”

My nails dug into my palms. My wolf thrashed harder than ever before, and for ...