The night had fallen heavy over Hawthorne Ridge, and the forest seemed to hold its breath. A cold wind whispered through the trees, rustling the leaves and carrying the faint scent of moss, pine, and something darker, something ancient. The wolf inside me stirred restlessly, sensing the weight of what was coming, a presence I could not yet see but could feel in every nerve, every heartbeat.
Kael led me to a secluded glade where the moonlight fell in silver streaks, illuminating the ground like a celestial path. The air was thick with anticipation, as if the forest itself were aware of the revelation about to unfold.
My muscles ached from the recent encounters with the rival pack, my body still humming with adrenaline, yet my mind was sharper, more alert than ever. Every instinct within m
