The forest was alive with whispers. Every shift of the leaves, every snap of a twig, made my fur bristle and my ears twitch. I pressed closer against the oak tree, the rough bark digging into my side, as though the ancient roots could shield me from the world that had just been turned upside down.
The glow that had poured from my paws moments ago was gone, but its memory lingered. My body still hummed with leftover energy, a low, steady vibration that refused to fade. I curled tighter into myself, trembling as my wolf settled, trying to make sense of what had happened.
The mate bond.
Kael.
The rogues fleeing from me—not because I fought them with teeth and claws, but because something within me had burned them like fire.
I squeezed my eyes shut. I was no omega. At least… not the kind
