The town, Patrins was barely waking up. A thin mist clung to the sidewalks, and the clatter of dishes inside the corner café was one of the few signs of life.
Lena sat at the café’s corner table by the window, framed by the soft gray light of the misty morning.
Every time Lena came to town, she made a point to blend in with the locals. She didn’t feel the cold the way most humans did—her wolf kept her warm—but she couldn’t risk raising suspicion. Wearing a summer dress in the middle of autumn would only lead to questions, and questions were dangerous.
A deep olive-green coat wrapped around her tall, slender frame, belted neatly at the waist. The fabric was soft but structured, clinging just enough to show off her curves.
A dark scarf was looped around her neck, its edges tucked in wit
