The forest swallowed Aurelian and his wolves within seconds.
One moment they were there.
The next, the shadows between the trees closed around them like a curtain.
Silence followed.
But it wasn’t the peaceful silence Ravenridge was used to.
It was heavy.
Unsettling.
The warriors surrounding the clearing looked toward Kael, waiting for orders.
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“Rowan,” he said without turning.
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Double the patrols.”
Rowan nodded immediately.
“Already done.”
“Good.”
Kael’s eyes swept the forest once more before finally turning back toward Lena.
And the moment their eyes met
She knew.
He was hiding something.
“Everyone else,” Kael ordered the warriors, “return to your posts.”
The wolves obeyed quickly, disappearing back into the darkness of the pack groun
