Jackson's POV
As I gazed out into the darkness beyond the packhouse, the night seemed to be like a thick fog, everything weighing down on me. This felt different, even though I had always been the one bearing the weight of leadership, family protection, pack obligation. It went beyond simply defending what was rightfully hers now. It has to do with survival.
The surge from the past still pulsed under my skin, blending with the frustration and helplessness that had been my regular friend. Though the Raven had vanished once more, we had saved Caleb. She always kept ahead of us, always playing her next move before we could even expect it, no matter how near we got.
Ava had come to see the kids once more, her face pallid and drawn from tiredness. She was, if not more, as worn out as I was.
