Elise’s POV The camp was restless, every wolf preparing for the impending battle. My heart pounded as I watched Kael, his imposing figure standing firm amidst the chaos, issuing orders with a calm yet commanding voice. The thought of facing my former pack filled me with a dull terror, one that settled deep in my chest and made it hard to breathe properly. I had to stop this. "Kael." My voice came out shakier than I wanted, but he turned to me immediately, his intense gaze locking onto mine. "You don’t have to do this." His expression remained unchanged. He stayed silent, watching me as I gathered the courage to continue. "I know this territory better than anyone," I said hurriedly. "There are shortcuts... hidden paths. We can use them to cross without being detected." Kael exhaled sl

