s belonged. Kael was always there, waiting for me at the edge of the woods, his presence as commanding as the first time we met. There was no denyi

d through the forest. The moonlight painted the leaves i

t?" I asked, my voice

den and intense, bore into mine. "You feel it, don't you? The connection to

felt alive beneath my skin, as if its heartbeat resonated with mine. Bu

s sense. I mean, wolves that can shift into humans? And

out, his hand hovering near mine. "It might

that made my heart skip a beat. I pulled my hand

," I said, s

rd to miss. "Take all the time you need. But don't wait t

ds. I saw the forest, its trees swaying as if whispering secrets. I saw wolves running under the mo

y, as if I'd carried the weight of those dreams into the waking world. I knew I couldn't ignore

r breakfast. She'd always been pe

time in the forest," she said

head," I replied,

on me for a moment too long. There was something

re not telling me?" I as

t... it's not just trees and wildlife. There are old stories, things

the guarded look in her eyes stopp

he wasn't alone. A woman stood beside him, her presence as striking as his. She had shar

Kael said. "She's one of

fused. "She doesn't lo

yes. "Looks can be deceiving. Kael speaks hi

asked, my un

rthy," she re

rning look. "That'

me lost human who wandered into our world, Lyra. There's something in you, something d

Kael said again

n the air remained. I looked at Kael, s

dmitted. "There's more to your connection to the pack

ught me to listen to the forest, to feel its rhythms and anticipate its movement

evening as we stood near a clearin

e rustle of leaves, the chirping of crickets, the distant hoot of an o

?" I asked, o

se of the forest. You're star

e I felt like I was changing. My senses were sharper, my dreams mo

what it might mean for my life outside the forest. Miriam's words echoed in

d, and Selene's watchful eyes never left me. I knew I was on the cusp of something monumental, bu

I wasn't sure