*River*
The forest thickens around us as we move deeper into the shadows, the tension palpable in the air. My small group of fighters follows closely behind me. Each step I take is laden with urgency, the scent of wet fur and musk growing stronger, mingling with the rich earth beneath our feet.
As we close in on the were ears we shift back to our human form for a strategy meeting.
“We’re getting close,” I murmur, glancing back at my pack. Their expressions are set, a mix of determination and apprehension. “Remember, we’re here to negotiate first. I don’t want bloodshed if it can be avoided.”
Jax snorts, his impatience evident. “With werebears? You think they’ll listen to reason? They’ll just see us as intruders.”
“Maybe,” I concede, “but we have to try. If we rush in without understan
