Chapter 62

The old border fort was exactly as depressing as Arianna remembered from her first visit months ago—crumbling stone walls, overgrown courtyard, the lingering sense of abandonment that came from decades of disuse. It had once marked the boundary between Ravenwood and Shadowfang territory, back when the packs had maintained something resembling peaceful coexistence.

Now it would either witness the beginning of a new peace or become the site of another betrayal.

Arianna arrived with her escort an hour before the scheduled meeting time—Duncan, Helena, Thomas, Ruth, and Blackthorn. Helena had wanted to bring more warriors, but Arianna had insisted on honoring the agreed-upon limit of five wolves per...