Alpha Brian
I pressed my back to the rough bark of the oak, breath slow and measured, every instinct screaming to stay still. The potion the witch had brewed clung to my skin, sharp and bitter in my nostrils, masking my scent beneath layers of crushed herbs and moonflower. Even the forest seemed uneasy around me, leaves whispering in the wind as though they knew something was wrong.
It didn’t take long.
A young pup burst through the undergrowth, limbs flailing, panic radiating from him in hot, frantic waves. His heart thundered loud enough that I could hear it over the rustle of branches. Princess Seren followed close behind, her movements controlled but urgent, power coiled beneath her skin as she gave chase.
Then Lenore stepped into view.
She placed herself squarely in Seren’s path,
