The sun had barely begun its descent when Rowan and Caleb arrived at the outskirts of the neutral pack’s territory. Unlike Rowan’s pack lands, which were bordered by towering pines and jagged cliffs, the terrain here was softer—rolling hills covered in golden grass, open sky stretching for miles. It was peaceful, deceptively so. But beneath that serenity lurked something Rowan couldn’t quite place, a weight pressing against his chest the moment they crossed the boundary.
Caleb, walking a few paces ahead, glanced back at him. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were sharp. “Feel it?” he asked quietly.
Rowan nodded. “Something’s… off.”
“I thought so too,” Caleb admitted. “It’s not just the curse. There’s something about this place. It feels like it’s waiting.”
Rowan didn’t ask wh
