Astrid’s POV
The wind had teeth this morning.
It howled through the Crescent Moon keep like it had something to say... and Astrid, for once, was listening.
She stood by the frost-glazed windows of the war room, arms crossed, watching the courtyard below where patrols shifted through their early drills. Everything looked normal... routine... exactly as it should.
But something felt wrong.
It had for days now. Ever since Alex left with Eliana.
She didn’t want to admit it out loud... not even to Ray... but there was a tremor beneath the skin of the pack. A low hum of mistrust she couldn’t quite name.
And it led back to one man.
Rowan.
He’d been helpful, agreeable... maybe too agreeable. Always one step ahead of whatever was needed. Always volunteering for extra patrols. Always the f
