The night air was thick and heavy, pressing against the Bloodstone packhouse like it wanted to suffocate every living thing inside. Ember’s muscles ached from the day’s training, but that fatigue was nothing compared to the gnawing tension in her chest. Vespera prowled beneath her skin, restless, restless in a way Ember couldn’t shake.
Something is wrong, her wolf warned, claws dragging against the edges of her awareness.
She rubbed at her temple, trying to will the unease away. But it wasn’t just instinct—she could feel it now, subtle, insidious. The bond with Maelis pulsed faintly, but irregularly, like a heartbeat skipping, threatening to break entirely.
Don’t move too close, Vespera murmured. Don’t trust the warmth.
Ember shook her head, attempting to dismiss it. “It’s nothing. Jus
