The first howl shook the Citadel.

It rolled across the palace like thunder, deep enough to make the very walls tremble.

Every servant stopped where they stood.

Maids carrying trays froze in the corridors.

Guards instinctively straightened, their hands tightening around the hilts of their swords.

An invisible pressure swept through the palace.

It pressed against every werewolf within the Citadel, forcing weaker wolves to lower their heads

as their instincts submitted to their King's overwhelming dominance.

Fear settled over the halls.

No one dared utter a word.

Inside the King's Court, Annie looked up from the materials she had been sorting.

"What was that?"

Before anyone could answer, a...