Kyla's words refused to leave Ayla's mind.
Even after the training ground emptied.
Even after Luca tried to apologize for the argument.
Even after the sun disappeared behind the mountains.
They remained.
Like a thorn buried beneath her skin.
"You brought Shadow Fang's attention to Black Hollow."
Ayla sat alone outside her cabin that night, staring into the darkness.
The village was quiet.
Lanterns glowed warmly along the paths.
Laughter drifted from a nearby home.
Somewhere, a child was being called inside for dinner.
It felt peaceful.
Safe.
Normal.
And that only made her feel worse.
Because Kyla wasn't entirely wrong.
Ayla hated admitting it.
But she wasn't wrong.
Before Ayla arrived, Black Hollow had been a small village hidden from the larger conflicts between packs.
