Morning arrived cloaked in a dense, suffocating mist that muffled every sound and shrouded the ancient pines in a ghostly gray. The mountain air was cold enough to bite at exposed skin, but Rhea rose early, brushing frost from her lashes as she stepped out of her shelter into the clearing.
The rest of the pack was already stirring.
Lucci stood near the dying embers of the fire pit, speaking in low tones to Ronan and Vira. Rhea’s pulse spiked the second her eyes landed on him.
She walked toward the fire, and all three turned in unison to face her.
"Good. You're up," Vira said, adjusting the strap of her quiver. "We move soon."
"Where?" Rhea asked, pulling her cloak tight around her shoulders.
"Back to the source of the fire and the claw marks," Ronan replied. "Kael scouted ahead bef
