*Moonlight Territory ---- Outer Gates, Night*

The forest around Moonlight Pack was supposed to be quiet under the winter moon. But the night cracked open with a single, shuddering howl----low, broken, and wild.

Two guards at the outer gates stiffened. One raised his spear, the other sniffed the air. "Did you hear----"

The words ended in a wet choke. Something moved faster than their eyes could follow. The crunch of snow was drowned by the snap of bone. A body hit the ...