Echoes of Essence
The moment Kieran led his ailing pack into the ancient caves, a profound shift occurred. The suffocating tang of the virus-laden air outside dissipated, replaced by the crisp, cool scent of damp earth and something else—something ancient, primal, and impossibly clean. It vibrated with a forgotten energy, a silent hum that seemed to push back against the sickness in their blood. But even within this sanctuary, the pack faltered. Wolves stumbled, their forms flickering erratically, their howls now soft, desperate whimpers. The virus was relentless, even here.
Kieran’s pureblood senses, though dulled by the contagion, reached out, guided by an instinct deeper than thought. His mate bond with Lyra, a raw, burning agony ever since her capture, now became something more. It p
