I stood on the edge of the cliff overlooking the valley where our combined packs were settling, my fingers curling tightly around the stone railing. Morning fog rolled over the hills like a restless beast, and though the worst of the storm had passed, the air still felt charged—like something terrible was waiting just beneath the surface.
“You didn’t sleep,” Elias said from behind me. His voice was rough with sleep, but his presence alone made my heartbeat slow.
“No,” I murmured. “There’s too much to do.”
He moved closer, the warmth of his body brushing against mine. “You’ve already done the impossible, Lena. They follow you now—both packs. You united enemies.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “They follow because they’re scared. Not because they trust me. Not yet.”
“They will,” he said.
