The next morning, the packhouse felt tense, but calmer than the night before.
The Crescent Vale warriors were still at the border, visible only as distant shadows moving through the trees. They didn’t attack, but the message was clear: they were watching.
Inside, the guards and elders moved quickly, setting up patrols, checking alarms, and coordinating quietly. The pack was ready, alert, but not panicked.
Jax and I stayed close together as we walked to the kitchen. My mind still felt heavy from last night, but I tried to focus on what I could control.
Hazel and Zack met us there.
“Did you see them last night?” Hazel asked softly, pouring coffee into two cups.
“Yes.” I said quietly. “They’re at the border. They want us to know they’re there.”
Zack frowned. “A warning, not an attack.
