"Date Unknown"
When I first crossed into the Black Peak Territory, the air sent a shiver coursing through my body like a warning. The sky above was a deep, bruised purple—neither night nor day— as though the heavens themselves couldn't decide which way to turn. A sharp wind bit at my skin, carrying the faint, bitter notes of something wrong.
I traveled alone, following the summons of Alden Donari, Alpha of the Crescent Claw Pack. His letter had arrived five nights ago, swiftly yet unexpectedly—a pleading request scrawled in uneven handwriting.
"It affects my son. I fear we are losing him to something darker than death. Come quickly, Catherine. You are our only hope."
I gripped the faded parchment tighter as I recalled his words. Alden wasn't the type to beg. The idea of him, a proud p
