“The Hidden Thread”

Deric POV

The early morning air had a sharp bite, even through the thick walls of the pack compound. I pressed my palm against the window, watching the sun struggle to rise, streaks of gold and crimson painting the sky over the horizon. Something about the silence outside made the storm brewing inside me feel louder. I couldn’t shake the nagging unease that had settled in my chest like a stone.

I had spent the last few hours combing through the intelligence Carlton had left me—notes, hidden compartments, coded messages. Normally, I trusted my instincts, but there was something here… something Felen had left behind that didn’t...