Hazel’s POV

“HE’S OUT.”

The paper shakes in my hand .

“Fen,” Kael says. “Tormund’s brother. Beta of High Pine before Syra took it. He escaped. Two hours ago. Killed three guards with his bare hands.”

The forty three are sleeping. Spread across the pack house, the infirmary, the new barracks we built. Safe. For now.

“How?” Alaric asks. His voice is quiet. That’s worse than yelling. “He was in the deep cells. Iron chains. Six guards.”

“He had help,” the scout says. “From outside. Someone opened the door. Someone who knew the rotation.”

Tormund smiles from his cell when we tell him. Teeth bloody from biting his gag off....