Athena.

The forest still echoed with the distant howls of retreating wolves as Beauty and I made our way back to Grayhound territory. Every step I took was measured, my body aching but my mind sharper than ever. Victory had a strange taste—sweet but tinged with the knowledge that every action had consequences. Today we had crippled the rogue faction, but tomorrow they would regroup, and the threats we faced would only grow.

Beauty walked beside me silently, her expression unreadable. I ...