Chapter 17

Long claws dig into the dry dirt. The three massive mystical wolves meet the astonished gazes of the villagers. Pearl sighed at the beautiful landscape to her right. The river appeared still, yet she flowed under the thinnest of ice, awaiting the gentle touch of the sun. Though the air bore only coldness and the ground was almost frozen once more, they glittered with the gift of each nascent ray.

It was something you never really got used to—after all, ordinary werewolves weren't as big as the three, and seeing a rare creature like a warrior wolf was out of the question. Even Pearl was impressed with them when she looked their way. The men and women halt in their tracks, backing up just slightly to make way for the three not-so-ordinary wolves who circle their every step. Rumbling growls tear from the wolves’ throats each time they pass someone.

Pearl offered the villagers pleasant smiles. Of course, no one smiled back. No surprise there. They loathed her. They hated her confid