Stephanie’s POV

The forest swallowed us whole long before the moon climbed to its peak.

Branches snapped under our shoes while our shadows stretched like claws across the ground.

Davies walked ahead of me, his posture rigid, as every muscle in his back coiled tight with fury.

Gregory moved beside me, flanking my left side, his wolf senses sharpening the path ahead.

We had been searching for hours, tracing magical residue, sniffing faint trails, and listening for anything that sounded unnatural but nothing.

The forest felt restless, almost alive, as though it was holding its breath.

“Her scent ends here,” Gregory muttered, crouching low and brushing his fingers against the...