(Catherine POV)
The day passed in a haze of restless energy I couldn't shake. I tried to read, but the words blurred together on the page. I attempted sketching from memory, but my hands trembled too much to produce anything recognizable. Even the library's magnificent collection held no appeal—every book felt like a distraction from questions that demanded answers I wasn't sure I was brave enough to seek.
That evening, I found myself back on the balcony before I'd made any conscious decision to go there. The sun had set hours ago, painting the sky in shades of purple and gold that slowly faded to black velvet studded with stars that seemed brighter here than they'd ever been in London.
I waited, though I couldn't have said exactly what I was waiting for.
The first howl came just after
