The forest’s dense canopy muted the moonlight, casting an eerie glow over the loyalist camp. The air hung heavy with tension as Dominic, Lila, and the others crouched at the edge of the clearing. Beyond the protective circle of towering oaks, the loyalist wolves moved with a restless energy, their low murmurs punctuated by the occasional crackle of firelight. Despite the distance, Lila could feel the weight of their gazes, the unspoken fears and questions etched into every movement.
Lila’s pulse quickened as she surveyed the camp. It wasn’t what she had expected. Scattered among the makeshift shelters were not just battle-ready wolves but families. Women tended to steaming pots over open flames, children darted between tents, their laughter a faint, fragile sound against the backdrop of u
