The air in Silvercrest was heavier than Evelyn remembered. The same winding paths through the trees, the same cobblestone-lined streets leading into the pack’s central quarters—yet everything felt weighed down with unspoken tension. She hadn’t even stepped through the main gates before eyes turned to her, some in awe, some in dread, and others in outright disbelief.
But Evelyn didn’t flinch.
Aria, her wolf, stirred inside her, calm and centered. “Let them stare. They’ll soon remember who we are.”
Flanked by Kendall and two warriors from her allied pack, Evelyn walked with her chin high, her dark hair swaying behind her like a banner of war. Her leather boots echoed with each step across the stone floor of the council chambers where she was summoned. Her presence was no longer a request—
