th uneasy energy. Every movement, every conversation, carried an undercurrent of tension. Le

ng Lena under the watchful eye of the pack. She was grateful for the cha

nearby wall, sharpening a blade with slow, deliberate strokes. His amber

" he finally said, his voice cu

up, startled

er directly. "You don't belong here. You're putting a

mbling with a mix of anger and fear. "Do you think I wanted to

ut that doesn't change the fact that you're a

oug

ael standing there, his gray eyes cold and hard as steel. Maren an

aze locked on Dren. "You ha

You know I'm right. She doesn't belong he

as long as I'm alpha, you'll treat her as such. Or

oment, it seemed like Dren might take the bai

don't say I didn't warn yo

t longer before turning to L

egy for

rest. The crisp morning air was a welcome re

bout? "Lena aske

... vocal. But he's not wrong to be worried. Th

e so much trouble," Le

Lena. Elias was going to come for us eventually. You just gave him a reason

the plan?

securing weak points. Maren and the scouts are tracking Elias's movements, tryin

d. "What can

ore nodding. "Come with me. There

surrounded by towering pines. In the center of the clearing

stone has been here for centuries. It's where our ancestors first gath

gravings. The symbols felt strangely warm beneath he

e said. "But why are

realize it or not, you've become one of us. And if we're

ightening. "I don't know if I'm

onto hers. "You don't have to be ready. Y

d, then nodde

and the forest seemed to darken. Kael's movements became more

s wrong," h

h the air. Kael lunged at her, pushing her to the gro

ordered, his voi

orm, his massive frame bristling with tension. Anoth

and menacing, and charged to

he could hear the sounds of a struggle, shouts, the thud o

treaking his fur. He shifted back int

aid. "Hunters. Elias is

"Lena asked, h

ight. We end this before he

e in the den. Kael stood at the center, his

Maren and the scouts have set traps along the forest's edge. Dren and his team

a? "Mare

ith me," Kae

protest, but Kael shot he

ze sweeping over the pack. "And we p

sed to prepare, Le

ve to protect

cause I don't just fight for

but the looming threat of Elias

ng. And they would