Chapter Thirty-Eight
The valley’s early light was fragile, barely piercing the low-hanging clouds that clung to the ridges. The remnants of last night’s battle still smelled faintly of smoke and blood, mingling with the musk of wolf and man alike. The air carried tension so thick it felt almost physical, pressing down on every Alpha and every wolf.
Lyra moved along the ridge, her senses heightened. Her pack followed closely, shifting seamlessly between human and wolf forms. Their instincts were sharpened, attuned to every twitch of Cain’s muscles and every subtle signal from Elias. But she could feel it now — the subtle influence that had been growing in Elias for days. The Shadow fragment was not just shaping his logic; it was weaving into his instincts, guiding his pack like an invisib
