They treated her differently now.
Even the Hidden Wolves—who had once looked at her with wary skepticism—now lowered their eyes when she passed. Some murmured in Old Tongue. Others bowed. The ember's glow hadn't faded since the trial. It hummed just beneath her skin like a second soul.
Xavier noticed it too. He didn't say anything, but she caught the worry in his gaze.
They were gathered in a stone hall carved into the side of the mountain, a council chamber of sorts for the Forgotten. Maelin stood at the head of the long table, arms crossed.
"You passed the Test of Flame," she said. "That means something. But not to everyone."
A door creaked open. A man entered—tall, with silver-streaked black hair and eyes like sharpened steel. His presence sent a ripple of tension through the room.
"That's Cael," Maelin whispered. "Second to our old Alpha. Now he thinks he should lead."
Cael didn't bow. "So this is the flame bearer," he said, eyes scanning Raine. "Another girl with power and no control."
Xavier growled low under his breath, but Raine raised a hand to silence him.
"I'm not here to rule you," she said. "I came for help."
"Help?" Cael scoffed. "You brought the ember here. The thing that wakes monsters in the dark. And you expect us to risk our lives for your cause?"
"She carries my Alpha's legacy," Maelin shot back. "Her mother trusted us."
Cael stepped closer to Raine. "Then let her prove herself."
Raine's jaw tightened. "I already have."
"Not to us. The Test of Flame is between you and the ember. I want a trial by blood. A hunt. If you survive, you'll earn the loyalty of my wolves. If not—"
Xavier was already standing. "Try it and I swear—"
"—Xavier." Raine's voice was steady. "Let him speak."
She turned back to Cael. "Fine. I'll hunt. What are the terms?"
Xavier looked at her like she had grown horns and then kept quiet and turned away from where she was.
Cael's smile was cold. "There's a beast in the northern forest. We call it the Hollowfang. It preys on spirit wolves. No one who's faced it has returned."
"Then I'll be the first."
That night, Raine stood at the forest's edge, dressed in dark leathers. Her cloak whipped around her in the wind. The moon was almost full now—bright enough to make the trees shimmer with silver.
Xavier approached her, holding out a blade wrapped in black cloth.
"Silver-edged. Blessed by the Forgotten," he said. "Don't die in there."
She smirked. "You're terrible at pep talks."
He didn't laugh. "Raine… don't let them push you into something just to prove a point."
She looked up at him, her eyes glowing faintly from the ember's light.
"This isn't just about proving myself. If I'm going to lead—even for a moment—I have to earn it. The right way."
She leaned in and kissed him, soft and brief. Then, without another word, she turned and vanished into the woods.