The days following Kane’s defeat were heavy with an eerie stillness. The shadow’s oppressive weight was gone, yet the forest felt fragile as if holding its breath. The pack, while relieved, couldn’t shake the exhaustion that had settled into their bones.
Lyla awoke to the soft hum of the forest, its whispers quieter but more focused. She sat up slowly, her body aching from the battle. The camp was alive with subdued activity as the pack worked to rebuild and fortify their home.
Eli was already awake, standing near the edge of the clearing, his green eyes scanning the forest. When he noticed Lyla, he approached, his expression a mixture of relief and concern.
“You look better,” he said, sitting beside her.
“I feel... different,” she admitted. “Like something shifted inside me.”
“You sh
