The mood in Ashen Hollow had shifted.
It wasn’t something you could easily point to, but it was there—a subtle but undeniable tension in the air. The mist that perpetually clung to the town seemed thicker, more oppressive, and the whispers in the streets grew more anxious by the day. People moved differently now, casting wary glances toward the forests and exchanging hushed words in corners. The town, usually so quiet in its mystery, was humming with unease.
Something was wrong, and everyone could feel it.
Lena had barely stepped outside her cottage since the attack. Rylan’s revelation about her connection to the leyline, the prophecy, and his claim that she was his mate had left her reeling. She needed time to process it all, to understand what it meant for her life. But there was no e
