Morning light spilled over the fortress, but instead of peace, it carried unease. Everywhere Elias walked, eyes followed him—some wary, some openly hostile.
He didn’t need to hear the words to know what they were saying. Rogue-blood. Traitor’s son. Dangerous.
By midday, the murmurs became confrontation. A young warrior, bold and reckless, stepped forward in the training yard. “Why should we trust him?” he barked, pointing at Elias. “Last night the rogues came for him! For him! How do we know he won’t betray us the next time they come knocking?”
The yard grew still, dozens of wolves watching. Elias’s stomach twisted.
Kieran’s growl rolled across the space like thunder. He stepped between them, golden eyes burning. “Careful,” he warned. “You forget yourself.”
But the warrior didn’t back
