Rowan
Rowan did not like being summoned in the middle of the night.
He liked it even less when the summons ended in nothing.
The search of the woods had yielded no intruders. No patrol breaches. No evidence of threat.
And yet Janice had walked those trees like a storm waiting to strike.
Now, hours later, the palace had returned to its usual quiet — guards stationed, torches trimmed, servants moving softly through morning duties.
But Rowan did not mistake quiet for peace.
Taren stood beside him on the west balcony overlooking the training yard, arms folded across his broad chest.
“She felt something,” Taren said finally.
Rowan did not deny it. “Yes.”
“And she didn’t like not being able to name it.”
“No.”
They stood in silence for a moment, watching younger wolves spar below.
“S
