The forest stretched endlessly before them, a cathedral of towering pines and tangled undergrowth. Hooves struck damp earth in steady rhythm, echoing in the morning stillness. Birds scattered as the small procession wound along the narrow trail, ten warriors in steel and leather, their Alpha and Luna at the helm.
Olivia kept her gaze forward, her back straight in the saddle, though the weight of unseen eyes prickled across her skin. The world felt too quiet. Even the wind carried an edge, as if it held whispers meant only for her.
Lucas rode beside her, his profile sharp against the gray dawn, jaw tight, every muscle coiled. He hadn’t spoken much since their departure. Command radiated from him, but beneath it Olivia saw the cracks—the burden he carried pressed heavier with each mile.
“
