Chapter 3

Netya huddled on the ground in fear, the heavy breath of the wolf in her ears as it stood over her. A threatening growl rumbled in the back of its throat, warning her not to try and fight or run. At some point she had closed her eyes, but once she caught her breath she forced herself to open them and look at the beast standing over her. It was a monster. Huge and vicious and powerful.

But its golden eyes watched her with intelligence. Intelligence, and perhaps even fear. An anxiety that mirrored Netya’s own. For an instant she was able to see not just the enormous wolf that loomed over her, but another person. One who had been attacked, and had responded in kind.

“I’m sorry,” she said in quavering tones, looking at the creature’s bleeding shoulder. “I didn’t know he’d do that. I tried to stop him.”

The wolf stared at her, then raised its head and let out a low howl. Netya could not see what was happening on the other side of the wall, but she heard the drumming of