Ella's POV
The sky had cleared by midday—hypnotic blue, almost peaceful. A false promise.
I was sparring with Colt again, the sweat stinging my eyes, when I first tasted it—the air shifting. Not the wind, but something denser, colder. The hair on the back of my neck stood up.
Colt and I paused mid-strike, our weapons lowering as we sensed the charge. I stepped back, blade ready, chest tight.
"Did you feel that?" I mouthed.
He didn't answer. He never did. But he nodded once, eyes shifting toward the forest.
A few heartbeats later, Christian's voice cut through the tension: "Everyone, fall back. Now."
The pack converged—swift, silent. Remo emerged, a black silhouette against the misty tree line, his silver gaze scanning the edge of the woods. He said nothing. Didn't need to.
The for
