The forest surrounding the Silverclaw Province was eerily quiet, except for the crunching of boots on dry leaves. Jess pulled her cloak tighter to her body, her fingers trembling for more than just the cold. The Lycan warriors flanking all around her were silent but alert, their sharp eyes moving to every shadow that walked in the dim light.
She could feel the tension in the air, thick as the mist moving around in the trees. Even without looking, Jess knew that the others were watching her, studying her every step. Her chest ached with the effort it took to give off confidence, though her mind was swarming with doubts. Would her words matter to these people who had been on their own for so long? Or would they dismiss her as nothing more than just the wolf acting to be a Lycan Queen?
As t
