He glanced around, letting the tension thicken. "Funny how the spirits seem to visit you right after you pay a visit to an Alpha's quarters."

The boys around Elowyn froze. The laughter died.

"What do you say, our savior?" Lucian's minion probed.

Elowyn stiffened. Her pulse spiked. Her mind went blank for a heartbeat - then she turned, too quickly, trying to walk off.

But halfway through her stride, she stopped. Dead still.

The silence deepened brittly. Even ...