Chapter 4

The howling of the wolf riders grew deafening as they surged down the snowy ridge, their torches painting the white slopes with violent orange flickers. Darren stood frozen before the ancient iron mechanism of the perimeter gate, his grip white-knuckled around his silver badge.

"If I press this into the mechanism to force an emergency override, I don't just lose my rank," Darren shouted over the howling wind, his voice thick with a sudden, raw terror. He turned his desperate gaze toward me, as if hoping I would release him from the ultimatum. "The gate's magic is bound to my…