ARIA’S POV

His silence to my question lingered longer than I would have expected, forcing me to ask again.

“Where is Draven?”

“Aria…Draven is…” Ragner's stammering caused my mind to travel in several directions, none of which was good or promising.

“Wait! He's still alive, isn't he?” I probed.

“He is,” Ragner's strong answer suggested that I had crossed a line and that was a relief. “Barely,” I felt my blood pressure shoot through the roof.

“Draven no longer stays within the walls of the pack.” Ragner explained, “He had to leave.”

“Take me to him,” I demanded. Ragner was quiet. His mannerism–I had never imagined Ragner being so timid....