"Do you hear that?" Kael’s voice was sharp, cutting through the heavy silence of the forest.
I strained my ears, my senses heightened. The eerie rustle of leaves and distant howls made my skin prickle. Draven, standing beside me, had already shifted his stance into one of heightened alert.
"It’s nothing," one of the warriors muttered, trying to dismiss the tension.
Draven’s gaze darkened. "It’s never nothing in these woods. Stay sharp."
We were on the third day of our journey to the Council of Alphas. The terrain was treacherous—twisting paths flanked by towering trees that blocked out the moonlight. The thick scent of damp earth clung to the air. But it wasn’t just the terrain that made the journey perilous; rumors of rogue packs and ancient beasts kept everyone on edge.
Dr
