LILA’S POV
The howl didn’t fade.
It lingered.
Long after the sound itself disappeared, the feeling of it stayed curling through the air like something alive, something watching, something waiting.
My entire body went still.
Not frozen from fear…
But from instinct.
Every part of me knew
That wasn’t a wolf.
“It’s close,” Nathan said quietly, his hand brushing mine, his golden aura flickering like a warning flame.
Too close.
The forest felt wrong again. Not silent like before but aware. Every leaf, every shadow, every breath of wind felt like it was holding something back.
“Everyone tight formation,” I ordered, my voice steady even as my heart pounded. “No one moves alone.”
The pack reacted instantly.
Wolves shifted. Mates gathered. Energy flared.
But it wasn’t the same as befo
