The shift came with a flash of pain and release. Heiko's bones cracked and reshaped, fur erupting across his skin as his powerful Alpha form surged forward, his massive wolf hitting the forest floor with predatory grace. The night air rushed over him, sharpening his senses to a near unbearable edge.
His paws moved silently over the mossy ground as he trailed the fading scent of his uncle, Peter.
With each stride, a frown etched deeper across Heiko’s lupine features. This was no casual run. Peter’s movements weren’t meandering or meditative. They were fast, focused, purposeful—his paw-prints etched a straight and unwavering path through the thickening woods.
He has a target, Heiko realized, instincts prickling. This isn’t a midnight stroll. Nor a hunt.
The prince’s thoughts churned as h
