The words had hardly faded from Elder Marrek’s mouth before the hall erupted.

Voices rose like a storm—shouts, growls, protests tangled with cheers. Some wolves barked their approval of the trial, hungry for spectacle, while others hissed warnings of dishonor and chaos. The ancient law was rarely invoked anymore, a relic of bloodier times when power was tested in fire and fang.

Yet now, it had been called. And it could not be withdrawn.

Elaria stood frozen at the center of it all, her ...