That night, Evie couldn't sleep.
She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to the sounds of the house settling around her.
Footsteps in distant corridors. Whispered conversations. The constant patrol of wolves outside her windows.
**********
At two in the morning, she gave up. Got out of bed. Moved to the window.
The fog had finally lifted.
The grounds stretched below, bathed in moonlight. Beautiful. Peaceful.
Except for the wolves.
She could see them patrolling. At least a dozen. Moving in coordinated patterns. Protecting the territory. Protecting her.
And in the distance, at the tree line, she saw it.
Movement.
Shadow that shouldn't be there.
Eyes reflecting moonlight. Not amber like Silvermane.
Red.
Like blood.
Like Shadowfang.
They were watching. Right there.
