Chapter 28

Julian knelt by the edge of the icy stream, his fingers numb as he worked the blade through the thick, matted fur of the winter wolf. The animal was heavy, a dead weight of muscle and bone that he'd dragged across the forest floor to the running water. He'd killed it an hour ago, and already the cold was beginning to set in, making the hide stiff and difficult to manage. As he peeled back the pelt, Julian noted the cleanliness of the cut. It was a chore, certainly, but it was taking him a...