Alpha Orion's POV
I stood on the ridgeline just before dawn, the first light painting the eastern horizon in pale washes of lavender and gold. In my hand, I held a battered leather map, the edges worn thin, the ink smudged from years of use. Below me, the tide of my pack’s warriors stirred in the camp, tents half-rolled, horses shifting in their stalls. Their breaths fogged in the cold air. I inhaled deeply, the scent of pine and frost filling my chest. Today, everything would change.
I turned away from the camp and padded quietly down a narrow path that wound through ancient oaks and towering pines. My long cloak trailed on the forest floor, leaves whispering beneath its hem. In each careful footstep, I carried memories of battle and betrayal, but also of hope. I was going to meet old
