The chill of the morning air bit at my skin as we prepared to depart for the waretiger territory. The forest seemed quieter than usual, the usual rustle of leaves and calls of wildlife stilled by the presence of an undercurrent that none of us could ignore. Marcus and Caius stood nearby, their conversation low and punctuated by tense glances. The challenge had left ripples that hadn’t yet settled, and the pack felt it in their bones.
I adjusted the strap of my gear, catching Ethan’s eye as he approached. “Everything set?” I asked, my tone brisk to mask the unease simmering beneath.
“Ready,” he confirmed. His gaze flicked toward Marcus and Caius, where tension hung like a storm cloud. “But they need to be on the same page, Maeve. This alliance hinges on unity.”
I nodded, knowing he was r
