The wind howled across the ridge that afternoon.
It carried the scent of smoke and iron from the burned camp, sharp enough to linger even within the safety of the den. Kai could still feel the weight of the night before in his body, a lingering ache that made every movement slow, careful. Heat simmered low beneath his skin, not gone, only waiting.
The collar at his throat felt heavier today.
Not uncomfortable.
Present.
A reminder.
His fingers lifted unconsciously, tracing the smooth silver ring. Grounding himself in its coolness, in what it meant, in what it declared.
Claimed.
Thorne returned just before dusk.
The moment he stepped inside, the air shifted.
His cloak was damp with mist, dark hair clinging slightly to his temples. But it was his eyes that drew all attention—hard, f
