The moon hung high in the sky, casting an eerie silver glow over the forest. I stood at the edge of the pack's border, the cool evening air wrapping around me like a thick, suffocating blanket. My breath was shallow, matching the unease that gnawed at my insides.
Everything had changed. The power I had fought so hard to claim—first with Magnus, now with Elias—felt fragile, like a house built on sand. No matter how many times I tried to steady myself, the wind kept threatening to blow it all down.
Elias stood beside me, his presence steady and solid, a reminder of the strength I’d gained since the battle. Since everything had shifted. His grip on my hand was firm, grounding me in this moment, but I knew better than to ignore the storm that was brewing beneath the surface.
"We should go i
