Morvienne didn't linger afterward. Once their discussion was over, she turned and left, vanishing back into the oppressive silence of the woods, her mind already shifting gears from the cold strategist back to the fragile, naive girl the pack and Kael believed her to be.

The moment she entered the pack through the secret path, her hood was pulled back before she could even blink.

The cool night air hit her face, and she froze. Her eyes widened, her breath hitching in her throat as she looked up.

Kael was standing directly in front of her. His expression wasn't one of anger, but of profound, jarring confusion. He looked at...