[Ava's POV]
The forest was super quiet just as dawn peeked over the trees, making long shadows where Ava stood. You could feel the tension in the air – like the wolves could sense something big was about to happen. Ava's senses were on high alert; she felt like she needed to watch her back. Something felt wrong about this meeting -- like a bad feeling she couldn't shake off. And she wasn’t alone. Rhett stood behind her, looking serious in the direction of the woods.
The envoy should be here any minute, but Ava already felt like there was a huge lie hanging over them, ready to fall. The Council had always seemed faraway and cold--untouchable. But they weren't unbeatable. They liked to stay in the shadows, and pull strings but now, out of nowhere, they show up offering a truce. They'd give
