Dawn had barely broken when William stirred in his bed, the faint chill of morning creeping into the room. His sharp ears twitched at the distant commotion outside the boys' tower, but it wasn’t until he reached out instinctively that he noticed Alex’s bed was empty. The sheets were still slightly warm.
He frowned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Where the hell is he?" he muttered. Alex wasn’t one to sneak off without a word, especially after Tanaka’s stern warnings about the looming trials.
Throwing on his shirt, William headed for the door, intent on finding his roommate. As he descended the staircase, the voices grew louder, excitement laced with tension. When he reached the common room, the source of the noise became clear.
A massive tapestry stretched across the far wall, glowing faintly with enchanted light. Its surface rippled like water, the image shifting constantly. Wolves—his packmates—were displayed in vivid detail, struggling against a raging tide.