The charred pendant from the Witch’s Sanctuary pulsed against her chest, a fragile tether to the ritual that could stabilize her fire witch powers and cure her illness. Olivia’s warning from the corridor—that her unbound magic could destroy the pack, turning her into a beast of flame—had shaken her to her core, planting a seed of doubt that gnawed at her confidence. The Shadow Woods’ dangers, the cloaked figure’s pursuit, and the letter revealing Alpha Maveric’s pact to hunt fire witches had made her feel like prey in a world that feared her blood. Gary and Jack’s unwavering loyalty anchored her, their trust a warmth she clung to, but Hart’s jealousy and fragile redemption left her wary, his motives as murky as the pines outside. Now, with the moonroot secured, the ritual loomed, but Seren
