The journey back to the Blackwood camp was quieter than Lyla expected. The usual playful banter and camaraderie among the wolves had been replaced by a solemn silence. Even Mason, who rarely missed an opportunity to needle someone, walked in silence, his expression unreadable. The victory over the Dark Root’s heart had been monumental, but its cost was still being measured.
Lyla felt a deep weariness settling into her bones. Her connection to the forest had strengthened in ways she could barely comprehend, but she also knew she had drawn on reserves of energy that weren’t hers to give. Every step felt heavier than the last, but she pressed on, matching Eli’s pace as they approached the clearing that marked the edge of their territory.
The pack needed her now more than ever, and there was
