“That was a weird encounter.” Diana thought .
“There is something off about him,” Artemis said inside their shared mind, her tone low and thoughtful. “But I cannot put my paw on it.”
The scent of pine and earth grounded her, but her thoughts kept circling back to the stranger inside her cabin.
“He lied,” Artemis continued. “Not completely. But enough.”
“He said he was new. Waiting for acceptance into the pack.” Diana frowned. “There are new wolves arriving, waiting for Asher’s approval. It is possible.”
“Possible,” Artemis agreed. “But his scent…”
Diana’s breath caught for a fraction of a second. Yes. His scent. Strong. Commanding. Controlled. It did not smell like a lone wolf seeking shelter. It carried power. Authority. And something darker beneath it.
“There was no scent of a pac
