Elder Harriet’s POV

The moment the Spirit Bird landed on my shoulder, I knew something had gone wrong.

Its feathers were ruffled from hard flying, and the message it carried only confirmed my fears.

Ember was alive, but barely. Her injuries were severe, and the soldier's condition was somehow even worse. Whatever they had encountered had changed them. They were no longer fully human or wolf, but something trapped in between.

My gaze shifted to the enchanted strip attached beneath its ...