The decision settled in my bones like a weight, both terrifying and solid. There was no more uncertainty, no more wavering. I would walk into the heart of the past, and I would demand answers.
Dawn came too quickly, painting the sky in streaks of pale gold and violet. I dressed in silence, pulling on practical, dark clothing-a far cry from the soft dresses I'd once worn in the Moonlight Pack. Adrien did the same, his movements efficient and focused, the Alpha preparing for a hunt. But when his eyes met mine, the fierce protectiveness in them was solely for me.
We met Sage Nolan at the edge of the western woods. He carried a worn leather satchel and a staff of gnarled oak, his eyes seeming to see the path ahead and the centuries behind all at once.
"Stay close," Adrien said, his voice a
