That night, Hudson didn't return to the High-Hall. The bed was a cold, vast expanse of furs, a silence Avery had learned to inhabit like a second skin.

The next morning, however, the fortress was a hive of activity. Descending the grand stone staircase, Avery was met with a procession of individuals in clinical white tunics and high-collared chef's robes.

Hudson stood by the arched entrance to the Great Hall, his thumb scrolling through a slate of glowing parchment. The moment his golden eyes caught her, he straightened. "These are the pack's finest healers and nutritional Sages. They are here for you. Since your wolf is dormant and your frame...