The forest was unusually quiet that morning, as though it, too, held its breath in anticipation. Aria moved carefully along the narrow path Kael had marked, her senses alert to every rustle and shift of shadow. Mara clung close, her small frame trembling, but determination glimmered in her wide eyes. The previous encounters with the rogue wolves had left a lasting imprint, and Aria knew that danger lurked in every unseen corner.
The sun filtered weakly through the canopy, casting patches of light that danced across the forest floor. Aria could feel the pulse of her wolf beneath her skin, coiling and flexing in readiness. The forest itself seemed alive to her presence, leaves quivering as if whispering secrets, she could almost understand. The bond she shared with Mara gave her strength, y
