RYAN POV
The night was colder than I expected. I moved alone through the dense forest toward the eastern border at the edge of our territory, my boots sinking into the floor, with every step I took.
I had left the main pack house hours ago covering more than half of my face, telling only Lucien and a handful of my most trusted trackers where I was going. There wasn't any grand farewell, and no dramatic speech was made to send me off. It was just a quiet exit, like any other routine patrol, except that this time, I was the bait.
My wolf was restless inside me, pacing with a low, constant growl that vibrated through my ribs. He didn't like this plan, for one bit. He wanted to charge forward, tear apart whatever was hunting our people, and then run straight back to the academy to c
