The next morning, I woke up and saw that Kael was already gone. His bedding was folded neatly, and there was a small note written on a piece of bark beside me: Training with Maya. Eat breakfast. Rest your shoulder. – K I couldn’t help but smile. He was always looking after everyone except himself. Outside, the camp was quiet. Most of the wolves were still asleep after everything we learned yesterday about the Alpha King. Only two guards were awake, watching the area. Everything else was calm. I went to the fire pit, where someone had left a pot of warm porridge. As I ate, Zara walked over. She looked like she hadn’t slept well. “Morning,” she said, dropping down beside me. “Morning.” “You believe it?” she asked. “The whole second bond thing?” Straight to the point. That was Zara.

