CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The crunch of the melting snow beneath my paws is a rhythm to my heartbeat. A fresh scent cuts through the crisp air, and I know without seeing that they are here—East Ridge pack, trespassers. My muscles tense, readying for the inevitable clash.
"Stay alert," I telepathically broadcast to my packmates, my voice a growl in their minds.
"East Ridge," Dane, our Beta, confirms with a snarl, his gray fur bristling along his back as we slow our approach.
I can feel the adrenaline flooding my system, the primal urge to defend our territory burning through my veins. But something is off. The East Ridge wolves don't advance. They're not posturing or showing aggression. Their Alpha, Emmanuel, steps forward, his black coat shimmering in the weak sunlight that filters through t
