Lena had bitten her lip so hard she was sure it would bruise. Her nerves were wildfire under her skin edgy, restless, impossible to quiet. She wasn’t afraid exactly, but she also wasn’t the type who walked into a gathering of strangers with quiet confidence. Meeting new people put her on edge. Meeting shifters dozens of them felt like stepping into another world entirely.
Silas walked beside her through the forest settlement, guiding her down a dirt path that cut through clusters of houses built between towering pines. It was dusk, though the heavy canopy made it feel darker. Quiet. Watching.
“Silas…” Her voice wavered despite her best effort.
“Relax, sweetheart,” he murmured, thumb brushing her knuckles. “This is home. You’re safe here.”
“I’m not scared,” she muttered. “I’m… socially
