The forest wind hissed through twisted branches, and even with the filtered morning sunlight, the air felt heavy. Lyra pulled River’s cloak tighter around her. The fabric still carried his scent, earth, wood, and faintly, blood. In no man’s land, someone always seemed to be dying.

The walk had been silent. For hours she followed him, deciding it was the best option. But as the forest thickened and the growls of renegades grew more frequent, her trust began to falter.

Wouldn’t it be safer to slip into human lands? They would never find her there. Kael would never know… would he? That had to be better than being torn apart on the path to a lost pack.

“You really think it’s safe to head for a place cursed by the Elders?” Her voice was steady, though it trembled at the end. “The stories about the Blood Moon Alpha are anything but comforting. They say he’s a beast, a monster who feeds on other wolves. And the thought that I might actually be following him doesn’t make me feel safe at all…”