West POV
A nagging sense of unease clung to me like a shadow, refusing to let go. Something felt off about Ari, and all I could think about was getting her to open up to me. I had slipped out of the house that morning while she was still lost in slumber, but the weight of my concerns lingered. And then, the call from Aria came, confirming my worst fears. As I tuned back into the meeting, Sage's voice cut through my jumbled thoughts, issuing directives to the tracking team. "Tomorrow, we'll infiltrate the Crescent pack's territory. I need each of you at the usual hideout, ready to gather intel." The room was filled with the murmur of assent, but my mind wandered. Even the elders seemed subdued, their silence more pronounced than usual as they observed with an air of quiet scrutiny. I was
