Book 17: Blood in the Forest

Aris

Crisp, clear moonlight snakes between the gnarled, frost covered trees. My paws pound shallow snow, but I don’t feel the cold bite. I needed this. Desperately. I needed to be out in my wolf form while leaving the rest of the world behind, even if just for a moment.

The castle fades into the distance. I race over hills and into shallow valleys, following the curve of a mountain creek, still burbling. Ice glimmers on the water's surface and starts to solidify the higher I climb, but the silver surface begins to darken, which catches my attention after an hour spent running, barely thinking, unable to form a single rational thought.

The human side of me spots blood before my wolf senses catch up to what I’m seeing.

I skid to a stop next to the creek, taking in the rich, iron scent. I follow the trail–bloody dropl