The night was unnervingly still as Althea slipped through the estate grounds, the crisp air sharp against her skin. Each step felt heavier than the last, her mind replaying Kaden’s warnings like a broken record. “You’re not going.”
And yet, here she was.
Her breath fogged in the cold air as she wound her way down the forest path, the moonlight barely breaking through the canopy of branches overhead. The small slip of paper in her pocket felt like a weight, its words etched into her mind:
You’re stronger now, but strength won’t protect you from the truth. Come alone if you want answers.
Her father's handwriting.
Her wolf stirred uneasily, its presence a quiet hum in the back of her mind. “He’s lying,” it murmured, but there was a hint of uncertainty in its voice.
“What if he’s not?” A
