CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
The dense canopy of the forest shrouds us in shadow, a natural cloak as we huddle on the northern ridge. Torin's warriors, silent sentinels of muscle and sinew, stand guard while murmurs of strategy and anticipation weave through the air. I can feel the tension thrumming like a living thing, every one of us poised on the brink of action. Our breaths mingle with the cool night air, visible puffs that blend with the mist rising from the earth.
"Kyle." Torin's voice slices through the stillness, his tone laced with the authority that marks him as Alpha. He steps forward, his stature commanding even in the dim light. Brown eyes, usually warm like freshly tilled earth, now hold a seriousness that could stop anyone in their tracks. "You have the right to stay behind," he sa
