Ryan held her gaze for a moment before looking back toward the forest.
The night had grown quieter around them. The distant sounds of Beast Realm still drifted through the trees, but they felt farther away now, as though the wilderness itself was giving them a rare moment of peace.
"If we're serious about this," Ryan said again, "then we need to stop thinking about it like it's some distant possibility."
Shezayah leaned back slightly.
"Thinking about what?"
"A pack."
The word settled between them.
Not because it was surprising.
Because it wasn't.
Ever since the Shadowrexes had backed down and the Beast Key had responded to her, the idea had been lingering in the background of every conversation. Neither of them had said it outright until now.
Ryan picked up another stone and toss
