Walking home from meeting Talon, I suddenly felt watched. The forest around me grew uneasy, filled with scampering and sharp noises from every direction. Shapes darted through the trees—too fast to see clearly.
Unease twisted in my chest. Rogues? A rival pack that had heard about what happened? I didn’t know who to trust or who was coming for me.
A sound to my right drew my attention—close to the border, but still inside. My house was just ahead, yet I hesitated. I couldn’t lead danger home.
Moving quietly, I followed the noise deeper into the forest. The patrols weren’t far, but whoever was out there didn’t care. Their fear of being caught was nothing compared to whatever they wanted—probably me.
I rounded a rock formation and caught a glimpse of someone vanishing into the shadows. I
