Ayla didn't sleep much that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, the same thoughts returned.
Black Hollow.
Shadow Fang.
Kyla's words.
The possibility of leaving.
By dawn, she still hadn't reached a decision. and she also thought about what Alpha Rowan said the previous day
But one thing was certain.
She couldn't stop thinking about it.
The village was slowly waking when Ayla left her cabin.
Smoke rose from chimneys.
Villagers moved through the streets preparing for the day.
Everything looked normal.
Peaceful.
And somehow that made the choice harder.
Because she cared now.
Months ago, leaving would have been easy.
Now it wasn't.
As she walked toward the clearing, she found Luca already waiting.
His training staff rested across his shoulders.
The moment he saw her, he f
