The forest felt alive, even from a distance. Every rustle, every whisper of wind carried a pulse I could sense, threading through my skin, down into my bones. I could feel Jesse before I saw him, before anyone else did. Not just him, but the corruption he carried, the Door’s magic twisted and sharpened like a knife.
I forced myself to focus, ignoring the thread of fear tugging at my chest. Crescent Vale was quiet, almost unnaturally so. The pack had gathered, alert but tense, and I knew their energy would draw him closer. Jesse loved attention.
“Here?” Hazel’s voice was quiet but nervous, almost a hiss. She crouched beside me, scanning the trees. “You feel it too, right?”
I nodded, adjusting the threads of magic in my hands. “Yes. He’s close. And he’s not alone. He’s spreading it.”
Zac
