The fire crackled softly in the cool evening air, casting flickering shadows across the forest clearing. Luke sat across from Lucia and Miranda, his face thoughtful, while Lucia gazed into the flames, lost in her own thoughts. Miranda, sensing the tension in the atmosphere, scanned the dark woods with a quiet vigilance. There was an undercurrent of tension running between them, but none of them spoke it aloud. The weight of unspoken plans and personal conflicts hung thick in the air.
Luke was still deep in conversation with Lucia about the fragile peace he sought to create between humans and wolves when Miranda suddenly tensed. She froze mid-sentence, her eyes narrowing as she sniffed the air.
“What is it?” Luke asked, his voice low but alert. He followed Miranda's gaze into the darkness
