The air in the clearing felt thick with tension. Elias stood at the head of our small group, his dark eyes narrowing as he faced the rogue pack. A dozen or so of their warriors stood before us, their leader at the forefront, a hulking figure cloaked in black leather. The scent of earth and fresh rain hung heavily in the air, the kind of stillness that made my instincts prickle with unease.
It had been a risky move—joining forces with a pack that had previously been our enemy. They'd caused us trouble before, and the blood of our packmates still stained their hands. But Elias, ever the strategist, had convinced me that it was the only way forward.
"Don't let your guard down," Elias murmured in my ear, his voice low. His words were a warning, but there was something else in them—a hint of
