Morning arrived quietly, the kind of cold winter dawn that made every sound in the forest sharper.
I woke before the sun fully rose.
The fire in my cabin had burned low during the night, leaving faint embers glowing beneath ash. For a moment I lay still beneath the thick furs, staring at the wooden ceiling as my mind replayed the strategy meeting from the night before.
New factions in the east.
Nightfang scouts testing our northern ridge.
Red Hollow still watching from the west.
Three directions. Three potential threats.
My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, aware of the shifting balance just as much as I was.
The rogue network had grown strong, but strength attracted attention. And attention inevitably brought conflict.
I pushed the furs aside and stood, pulling on my coat
