Chapter Nineteen
The valley was alive with movement. From the high terraces of the stronghold, Lyra watched as scouts returned with reports, their breaths ragged, eyes wide with tension. The fog had thickened overnight, weaving between trees and low hills, obscuring troop movements. She could sense every shift—the slight hesitations in pack scouts, the ripple of fear in villages along the river, and the taut nerves of the two Alphas who flanked her.
Cain stood rigid beside her, jaw set, eyes scanning the distant tree line. Elias leaned lightly against the railing, one hand brushing hers in passing—a small, deliberate touch that made her pulse spike without breaking her control.
“They’re testing us,” Cain said quietly, voice low and rough. “Tonight, one wrong move, and we’ll see if our w
